INTERNACIONAL
Lithuanian, Polish troops aid in ‘search and recovery’ for 4 missing US soldiers from Fort Stewart
The Polish military has established a group to assist the Lithuanian Army and U.S. Army in a recovery operation for four U.S. Army soldiers who disappeared early Tuesday during a training exercise near Pabradė, Lithuania.
The soldiers, based in Fort Stewart in Georgia, were riding in an M88 Hercules armored recovery vehicle on a scheduled maintenance mission to recover another U.S. Army vehicle in the training area when they disappeared, U.S. Army Europe and Africa public affairs in Wiesbaden, Germany, confirmed.
Hundreds of U.S. and Lithuanian soldiers and law enforcement, Lithuanian military helicopters and dive teams aided in the initial ground-based search through the thick forests and swampy terrain.
However, the soldiers have yet to be located, and the M88 Hercules was found submerged in a body of water inside the training area, located over a highly pressurized gas pipeline near Pabradė, a town north of the capital Vilnius.
Lithuanian engineers and U.S. Army soldiers pump water from a swamp to recover an Army M88 Hercules armored vehicle Thursday near Pabradė, Lithuania. (Lithuanian Armed Forces)
BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS MISSING AND MURDERED UNIT INVESTIGATING ALLEGED MILITARY BASE KILLING
In an interview with Fox News Digital Thursday afternoon, Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovilė Šakalienė said from the moment the country learned of the incident, it had «given everything» it has, both from its armed forces and internal affairs ministry institutions, to find the soldiers.
«From helicopters with thermal vision to forces on the ground, we are continuing very intensely,» Šakalienė said.
U.S. Army Europe and Africa public affairs noted water, thick mud and soft ground around the site «have complicated recovery efforts,» requiring specialized equipment to drain water from the side and stabilize the ground.
Polish officials announced Thursday they were sending a group of troops with engineering equipment to assist.
As of Thursday afternoon, officials said land dredging equipment was on the way, and a dam was being reinforced to isolate the mud pumping area.
The pressurized gas has been removed, and it is now safe to work at the site, according to Šakalienė.
Recovery efforts continued Thursday for four missing U.S. soldiers near the spot where their Hercules armored vehicle was found submerged at a training range in Pabradė, Lithuania. (AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis)
The internal water waste agency will send out a water master dredger and more than 900 feet of bulk pipe on Friday morning, and they should reach the the location by midday.
It will take several hours to install the pipeline and the dredgers. Then, they will begin making water influx with the excavator.
«The dredger pump usually pumps 80% of water, while working with 20% of mud or sludge, and the goal is to start working with the pump until the evening, so that, finally, on Saturday morning, a diver and the hydrographic team can use a multi-beam echo founder to assess the position of the vehicle, because we don’t know yet if it has overturned or what position it is in,» Šakalienė said.
Lithuanian military and law enforcement personnel observe recovery efforts as an excavator gathers soil Wednesday near Pabradė, Lithuania, where a search and recovery effort is underway for four missing U.S. Army soldiers. (Lithuanian Armed Forces)
A diver will attach cables, and workers will use pulleys to tow the vehicle to shore.
«Then we will be able to check if the missing soldiers are inside,» she said.
Šakalienė said it is unknown if the soldiers could have escaped the vehicle before it sank but reiterated there was «no evidence» confirming the deaths of the missing soldiers as of Thursday afternoon.
FOREIGN NATIONALS FLYING DRONES OVER US MILITARY SITES RAISES ‘ESPIONAGE’ CONCERN: EXPERT
The area surrounding the site is a forested area with swamps and bogs, similar to an environment found in Alaska. Weather conditions are also similar, making it a challenging training area for Army personnel.
«Maybe they were lost, confused, hurt or in hypothermic condition, and we haven’t found them yet,» Šakalienė said. «But we are not losing hope until the very last moment. These are strong soldiers, strong, grown men. All scenarios are possible.»
Soldiers walk along a road near a training range in Pabradė, Lithuania, Thursday. (AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis)
She added Lithuania, a member of NATO, considers American soldiers their own and will not leave them behind.
«We are working with them. We are friends with them, and all of our society is heartbroken watching every single moment of this rescue operation,» Šakalienė said. «I have a 24-year-old son. It’s difficult for me even to imagine what they are going through. … Let me assure you, we will do everything in our power to find them and to find the answers as soon as possible.»
SEARCH ‘ONGOING’ FOR 4 AMERICAN SOLDIERS MISSING FROM TRAINING AREA IN LITHUANIA: NATO
Deputy Prime Minister of Poland Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz confirmed on X a task force of several dozen Polish soldiers with heavy equipment and frogmen were «urgently» heading to Lithuania to help.
«We are responding to a request from our allies #StrongerTogether,» Kosiniak-Kamysz wrote in the post.
The country, also a member of NATO, has reportedly feared talks between Russia and Ukraine could end in a settlement that would allow Russian President Vladimir Putin to threaten the region.
U.S. soldiers gather near military and other vehicles parked at a training range in Pabradė, Lithuania, Thursday. (AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis)
Lithuanian officials said they are in touch with U.S. Ambassador Kara C. McDonald and U.S. Army personnel.
«We are leveraging every available U.S. and Lithuanian asset to coordinate and provide the required resources for this effort,» U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Curtis Taylor, the commanding general of 1st Armored Division, wrote in a statement.
The rescue mission has now turned into «search and recovery efforts,» according to a statement from U.S. Army Europe and Africa.
«We are incredibly appreciative of the dedicated and professional efforts of our Lithuanian allies in ensuring the safety of U.S. personnel,» Taylor added. «They have worked tirelessly alongside us over the last 48 hours, and we continue to be grateful for their support.»
Recovery efforts continued Thursday for four missing U.S. soldiers near the spot where their Hercules armored vehicle was found submerged at a training range in Pabradė, Lithuania. (AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis)
The U.S. Army’s 3rd Infantry Division is keeping the soliders’ families updated on the search.
«This tragic situation weighs heavily on all of us, and we’re keeping the families, friends and teammates of our soldiers and recovery team in our thoughts and prayers,» Taylor wrote. «We want everyone to know we will not stop until our soldiers are found.»
President Donald Trump told reporters Wednesday he had not been briefed about the missing soldiers.
The training site is less than 6 miles from Belarus, a Russian ally since its independence from the Soviet Union in 1990.
Military road equipment at a training range in Pabradė, Lithuania, Thursday. (AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis)
Lithuania, a Catholic country, will be organizing a joint prayer Sunday at its main church, the capital cathedral, and will host a mass for the missing soldiers.
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The White House and Fort Stewart did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
The Associated Press and Fox News Digital’s Stephen Sorace contributed to this report.
INTERNACIONAL
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker moves to boycott El Salvador for aiding Trump over Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s detention
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker ordered the state to review any investments and business with El Salvador, a move that could lead to a boycott over the Central American nation’s assistance with the Trump administration in the deportation of criminal illegal migrants.
In a statement, the Democratic governor said the move was in response to the administration’s defiance of court orders and the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a suspected MS-13 gang member with connections to human trafficking, who is being detained in El Salvador.
«The United States Constitution guarantees due process. We are witnessing Donald Trump erode our fundamental Constitutional rights in real time, and we must fight to restore the balance of power,» Pritzker said in a statement. «The State of Illinois will stand up for the Rule of Law and do everything in our power (to) stop the Trump Administration from ripping apart our most basic rights.»
Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment.
4 MORE DEMS TRAVEL TO EL SALVADOR TO PUSH FOR ABREGO GARCIA’S RETURN TO US
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker announced several moves Wednesday aimed at a possible boycott of El Salvador. (Vincent Alban/Getty Images)
Pritzker said he was requesting the Illinois State Board of Investment, the State Universities Retirement System and the Teachers’ Retirement System to «identify any fund investments» that are wholly or partially managed, owned or controlled by the Salvadoran government or have ties to businesses in El Salvador.
He also directed the Illinois Department of Central Management Services (CMS) to identify any state contracts awarded to companies with ties to the Latin American country.
The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) Office of Trade and Investment has also been ordered to analyze trade between Illinois and El Salvador, including the scale and nature of imports and the extent to which goods produced in El Salvador are in the supply chain of products manufactured in Illinois.
DEPORTED ILLEGAL ALIEN AND SUSPECTED MS-13 GANG MEMBER TRANSFERRED FROM NOTORIOUS EL SALVADORAN MEGA-PRISON
Chris Van Hollen speaks to Kilmar Garcia (Reuters)
Pritzker’s order came as at least five Democrats have traveled to El Salvador with the intention of meeting with Abrego Garcia. Four of them were denied a meeting by the Salvadoran government.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., met with him amid the legal battle over his return.
The Trump administration previously admitted to mistakenly deporting Abrego Garcia, an illegal immigrant with alleged ties to MS-13 who was living in Maryland, but has since said it would not help bring him home.
The Supreme Court has ordered the administration to «facilitate» Abrego Garcia’s return to the U.S. However, it said El Salvador is responsible for his return.
President Donald Trump, right, and Nayib Bukele, El Salvador’s president, shake hands during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C, on Monday, April 14, 2025. (Ken Cedeno/UPI/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele has said he will not return him. Democrats contend Abrego Garcia was deprived of due process, which the Trump administration denies.
The Justice Department unveiled documents last week detailing domestic violence allegations that Abrego Garcia’s wife, Jennifer Vasquez, included in a court filing in 2021. She alleged that her husband beat her and that she had documentation of the bruises he left on her.
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Additionally, a 2022 Homeland Security Investigations report obtained by Fox News claims that Abrego Garcia was suspected of partaking in labor and human trafficking. The report said a Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper pulled Abrego Garcia over in 2022 after swerving. The patrol officer found eight other individuals in the car with Abrego Garcia, who had just begun driving three days prior.
Department of Homeland Security sources confirmed to Fox News Digital that the SUV Abrego Garcia was driving belonged to a confessed human smuggler.
Fox News Digital’s Danielle Wallace, Peter Pinedo and Cameron Arcand contributed to this report.
Illinois,US,Central America,Crime
Poco después de que Sean Connors regresara de las vacaciones de primavera, el profesor de educación en inglés de la Universidad de Arkansas preguntó a un aula llena de estudiantes si alguien había pasado sus vacaciones leyendo la quinta novela de Los juegos del hambre, recién publicada, Amanecer en la cosecha. Varias manos se alzaron y, como recordó, “se dio una conversación bastante buena”.
En retrospectiva, dijo, hubo un comentario que le llamó la atención: cuando una estudiante afirmó que el principal antagonista de la novela, el presidente Snow, es el villano de su generación. Si creciste en los años 80, explicó ella, Darth Vader era sinónimo de villano, y luego, por supuesto, los millennials tuvieron a Voldemort. Mientras que la Generación Z podría asentir con la cabeza en acuerdo con la estudiante de Connors, lo más interesante de esta afirmación podría ser que cuando salió la primera novela de Los juegos del hambre, en 2008, y se presentó a los lectores al tiránico presidente de Panem, los miembros más jóvenes de la Generación Z aún no habían nacido.
Ese largo reinado de villanía puede explicar, en parte, la popularidad de “Amanecer en la Cosecha”. ¿Esos adolescentes y veinteañeros que hicieron la trilogía original un éxito? Siguen ansiando los peores horrores que la autora Suzanne Collins puede imaginar. Pero también una generación de jóvenes que recurren a la ficción distópica, ya sea para escapar o reflexionar sobre estos, digamos, tiempos desafiantes.
Amanecer en la Cosecha es el libro juvenil de más rápida venta del año hasta ahora. Según la editorial Scholastic, solo en su primera semana, la novela vendió 1,5 millones de ejemplares en inglés en todo el mundo y el doble de copias en Estados Unidos en comparación con la entrega anterior de Collins, La balada de los pájaros cantores y las serpientes (2020).
En comparación con otras series, la longevidad de Los juegos del hambre es notable y también inusual por la forma en que su popularidad ha fluctuado. Brenna Connor, de Circana, que rastrea las ventas de libros, revisó los datos de ventas de los cinco libros —la trilogía original más las dos precuelas— y no se sorprendió por los primeros datos de ventas: Los tres lanzamientos iniciales vendieron muchas copias, y muchas más después del estreno de las cuatro adaptaciones cinematográficas entre 2012 y 2015.
“Estamos hablando de millones de unidades vendidas anualmente”, dijo. “Y ese es un patrón bastante típico para este tipo de series que tienen un seguimiento tan destacado y una adaptación de página a pantalla”.
Tampoco fue sorprendente la pausa que siguió al lanzamiento de la cuarta película, Sinsajo – Parte 2, en 2015: Aparecieron objetos nuevos y brillantes; los lectores siguieron adelante. Pero luego, en mayo de 2020, en pleno confinamiento por la pandemia, se lanzó la primera precuela. La respuesta a ese libro, centrado en la historia del origen del villano Coriolanus Snow, fue inicialmente más moderada que la fiebre por la compra de “Amanecer en la Cosecha”. Pero gradualmente ganó impulso, y Connor tiene un par de teorías al respecto. La primera es el estreno de la adaptación cinematográfica en 2023, que impulsó las ventas de toda la serie un 300 por ciento. La segunda, posiblemente más profunda, fue el auge de BookTok, la esquina de TikTok donde los lectores, predominantemente mujeres y niñas jóvenes, promocionan sus libros y autores favoritos. Durante los últimos cinco años, una de esas autoras ha sido Collins.
Como profesor y fanático, Thomas Paradis vio las oscilaciones de primera mano. En 2013, inició una conferencia sobre Los juegos del hambre en la Universidad del Norte de Arizona que estuvo tan llena, “el cuerpo docente no podía creerlo”, dijo. “No cabía ni un alma más en los salones de clases”. Y durante los últimos siete años, ha enseñado un curso sobre Los juegos del hambre en la Universidad Butler. Hubo un momento después de la trilogía y antes de las precuelas en que notó que había “cada vez menos interés” en la serie, dijo. “Casi se estaba convirtiendo en literatura histórica”.
“Y luego todos tuvimos la sorpresa de nuestras vidas”, recordó. “Nadie esperaba que Collins escribiera una precuela”. Y así, de repente, surgió una nueva generación de fans.
Holly Mandziak y Emily McGeary son anfitrionas del pódcast de Los juegos del hambre “Into the Arena” y recientemente ayudaron a organizar una fiesta de lanzamiento a medianoche para “Amanecer en la Cosecha” en Tattered Cover Book Store en Colorado. El evento incluyó juegos y concursos, “y nuestras ganadoras de trivias”, recordó Mandziak, “fueron niñas que probablemente tenían como 10 o 12 años”. (Si eso suena un poco joven para leer un libro sobre niños peleando a muerte, solo recuerden que internet existe). La amplia variedad de edades de los asistentes a la fiesta reflejó el perfil demográfico de los oyentes del pódcast de la pareja: la mayor parte de los oyentes tiene entre 23 y 27 años, seguido por quienes tienen entre 18 y 22 años, y entre 28 y 34 años. Pero también cuentan con oyentes menores de 17 años y mayores de 45 años.
Ver a niños preadolescentes interesarse en los libros hizo que Mandziak se sintiera algo nostálgica. Tenía 11 años cuando descubrió la primera novela en 2011. (McGeary, en tanto, comenzó a leer los libros en 2010, a los 16 años, “más o menos la edad de Katniss”).
Mandziak, McGeary y otros fanáticos de Los juegos del hambre parecen coincidir en que “La balada de los pájaros cantores y las serpientes” siempre iba a ser más difícil de vender que “Amanecer en la Cosecha”.
El protagonista del libro más reciente, Haymitch, “es un personaje fácil de apoyar”, dijo Stef Woods, quien impartió un curso sobre la franquicia de Los juegos del hambre en la Universidad Americana. Si el libro no lo dejó suficientemente claro, entonces la interpretación del personaje en las películas por parte de Woody Harrelson ciertamente lo hizo. El enfoque de “Balada” en Snow permitió a los lectores ver “momentos de su lado humano”, dijo Woods. “Pero en general, era malvado”. ¿Con quién preferirías pasar más de 400 páginas?
Pero eso plantea otra pregunta, que es, en nuestros tiempos divididos, ¿es una sorpresa que la gente opte por historias sobre sociedades opresivas?
No es la primera vez. “Desde el inicio del año, he visto más clásicos distópicos llegar a las listas de más vendidos, como Fahrenheit 451, Rebelión en la Granja o El cuento de la criada”, dijo Connor, de Circana. Vio una tendencia similar en 2017.
Las librerías le han dicho a Connor que muchos de los lectores que buscan estos títulos son jóvenes. “Y eso tiene sentido”, dijo, “porque eran mucho más jóvenes durante el primer mandato de Trump, y ahora que quizás tienen 16 o 18 años, están buscando estos libros que no habrían leído a menor edad para comprender mejor o explorar de forma segura estos temas distópicos”.
Tal vez, entonces, cada generación obtiene al villano que necesita. Esa es la forma en que lo ve Connors, el profesor de la Universidad de Arkansas: Si Star Wars jugó con nuestro temor colectivo a la aniquilación nuclear durante la Guerra Fría, la serie de Los juegos del hambre está canalizando ansiedades más actuales: sobre las desigualdades económicas, los regímenes autoritarios y las amenazas a las libertades civiles.
Existen razones por las cuales los lectores se identifican con Katniss, Haymitch y otros personajes cuyo destino les fue impuesto. “Ya sea por desastres naturales, ya sea por la economía, la política o la covid”, dijo Woods, “no nos ofrecimos como voluntarios para muchas cosas en nuestra realidad”.
Fuente: The Washington Post
artistas,california,escritores,estados unidos,estreno de ‘los juegos del hambre: la balada de pájaros cantores y serpientes’ en el teatro chino tcl en hollywood,mujer,noviembre de 2023.,películas,posado
INTERNACIONAL
Gorsuch and Maryland school district lawyer have wild exchange over children’s LGBTQ storybook: ‘Not bondage’
The lawyer for a Maryland school district and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch had a wild exchange this week about a children’s book amid an ongoing case brought by parents who want to be able to opt their children out of reading LGBTQ storybooks in their public school.
Gorsuch was asking Alan Schoenfeld, the attorney representing Montgomery County Public Schools, about «Pride Puppy!» a 32-page book that tells the story of a family celebrating Pride Day when their dog gets lost in the parade and the effort to reunite the pup with his loved ones.
The rhyming alphabet book, which was described as «affirming and inclusive» by its publisher, allows readers to spot items starting with each of the letters of the alphabet while offering «a joyful glimpse of a Pride parade and the vibrant community that celebrates this day each year.»
The book was previously used in the district’s pre-kindergarten curriculum.
THE SUPREME COURT APPEARS TO SIDE WITH PARENTS IN RELIGIOUS LIBERTY DISPUTE OVER STORYBOOKS
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch had several questions about the «Pride Puppy!» children’s book during a Tuesday hearing. (Supreme Court)
«And they’re being used in English language instruction at age 3?» Gorsuch asked.
«‘Pride Puppy!’ was the book that was used for the pre-kindergarten curriculum. That’s no longer in the curriculum,» replied Schoenfeld.
«That’s the one where they’re supposed to look for the leather and things – and bondage – things like that,» Gorsuch responded.
«It’s not bondage. It’s a woman in a leather…»
A «Sex worker?» asked Gorsuch.
«No. That’s not correct. No,» replied Schoenfeld.
PARENTS TELL SCOTUS: LGBTQ STORYBOOKS IN CLASSROOMS CLASH WITH OUR FAITH
An elementary school teacher is seen reading a book about gender to students. (Getty Images)
«Gosh, I read it…drag queen?» said Gorsuch.
Schoenfeld said the leather is actually a woman in a leather jacket and that «one of the words is drag queen.»
The high court was hearing arguments in the case brought by religious parents who say young children can’t be expected to separate a teacher’s moral messages from their family’s beliefs.
Eric Baxter, the attorney representing Maryland parents in Mahmoud v. Taylor, told the justices that the school district violated the First Amendment by denying opt-out requests for books that «contradict their religious beliefs,» even while allowing exemptions for other religious objections – such as books depicting the Muslim Prophet Muhammad.
LAWSUIT TRACKER: NEW RESISTANCE BATTLING TRUMP’S SECOND TERM THROUGH ONSLAUGHT OF LAWSUITS TAKING AIM AT EOS
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch had questions about the «Pride Puppy» book. (Jonathan Ernst/REUTERS)
Baxter said teachers were required to use the materials in class after the district approved certain LGBTQ-themed curriculum books in 2022.
«When the books were first introduced in August of 2022, the board suggested they be used five times before the end of the year,» he said. «One of the schools, Sherwood School, in June for Pride Month said that they were going to read one book each day.»
The district initially allowed parents to opt out their children for religious concerns but reversed course by March 2023, citing concerns about absenteeism and administrative burdens.
Pride storybooks in the Montgomery County Public Schools curriculum. (Becket)
Among the other storybooks at the center of the case is «Prince & Knight,» a modern fairy tale aimed at children ages 4 to 8, which tells the story of two men who fall in love after joining forces to defeat a dragon and later marry.
Another book frequently referenced during oral arguments was «Uncle Bobby’s Wedding,» which follows a young girl processing her favorite uncle’s decision to marry another man.
Supreme Court justices heard oral arguments for Mahmoud v. Taylor on Tuesday. (iStock)
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The Supreme Court is expected to issue a ruling in the case by late June.
Fox News Digital’s Jamie Joseph contributed to this report.
Supreme Court,US,Maryland,US Education
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker moves to boycott El Salvador for aiding Trump over Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s detention
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