GINGER MAG

US to send anti-drone system to the Mideast after successful use in Ukraine, officials say

LONDON (AP) — An American anti-drone system proven to work againstRussian drones in Ukrainewill soon be sent to the Middle East to bolster U.S. defenses against Iranian drones, two U.S. officials told The Associated Press on Friday.

While the U.S. has used Patriot and THAAD missile systems totake down Iranian missilessuccessfully, there are limited effective anti-drone defenses now in the Middle East, according to a U.S. defense official, one of two officials who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military matters.

The U.S. response to countering Iran's Shahed drones has been "disappointing," the other U.S. official said, particularly because the drones fired by Iran are a much more basic version of the same drone that Russia is continuously refining and updating in its war in Ukraine.

The effort to bolster U.S. anti-drone capabilities in the Middle East underscores concerns about the planning for anIranian retaliatory responseacross the region to the American and Israeli strikes. Persian Gulf countries have complained they werenot given adequate timeto prepare for the torrent of Iranian drones and missiles bombarding their territory.

Thesystem that is being sent, known as Merops, flies drones against drones. It is small enough to fit in the back of a midsize pickup truck, can identify drones and close in on them, usingartificial intelligenceto navigate when satellite and electronic communications are jammed.

Drones are hard to pinpoint on radar systems calibrated for spotting high-speed missiles and can be mistaken for birds or planes. The Merops system is designed to spot them and take them down. Crucially, the system also is cheaper than firing a missile that costs hundreds of thousands of dollars at a drone that costs less than $50,000.

The top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut, said this week that "we're pretty good at taking missiles down. What is much more problematic for us is the huge inventory of Iranian drones, which are hard to detect and hard to take down."

Himes said the drone attacks present a "math problem" in that the U.S. cannot keep relying on expensive military interceptors, like Patriot systems, to down the quickly and cheaply made Iranian drones.

"It's really, really expensive to take down a cheap drone," he said. "A giant missile going after a tiny little crappy drone."

Merops was deployed in NATO nationsPoland and Romania in NovemberafterRussian attack dronesrepeatedly entered NATO airspace. The U.S. defense official says America has learned lessons from the deployment of the system and others like it in Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Thursday that the U.S. asked forhis country's helpin combating Iran's Shahed drones, which Russia has used in huge numbers in Ukraine. Zelenskyy did not specify the type of assistance Ukraine would provide, but the U.S. defense official said the Merops system is a part of it.

When asked about Zelenskyy's comments, Trump told Reuters on Thursday: "Certainly, I'll take, you know, any assistance from any country."

In the Middle East, Merops will be deployed to various locations, including where U.S. forces are not present, the defense official said. Most of the systems will be sent directly by Perennial Autonomy — the manufacturer backed by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt — and will not affect defenses in Europe, the official said.

Perennial Autonomy did not immediately respond to questions about the use of Merops in the Middle East.

Pentagon officials conceded this week in closed-door briefings with lawmakers they are struggling to stop waves of drones launched by Iran, leaving some U.S. targets in the Gulf region vulnerable.

"This does not mean we can stop everything, but we ensured that the maximum possible defense and maximum possible force protection was set up before we went on offense," Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters this week.

Michael Robbins, president and CEO of AUVSI, a drone industry group, said lessons from the Middle East and Ukraine show that the U.S. must accelerate deployment of sophisticated counter-drone technologies, so "our forces can defend bases and populations without spending a million dollars to stop a $50,000 threat."

Associated Press writers Lisa Mascaro, Didi Tang, David Klepper, Michelle L. Price, Ben Finley and Seung Min Kim contributed to this report from Washington.

byGreen Magazine

in

March 06, 2026

US to send anti-drone system to the Mideast after successful use in Ukraine, officials say

LONDON (AP) — An American anti-drone system proven to work againstRussian drones in Ukrainewill soon be sent to the Middl...

Indonesia will quit Trump's Board of Peace if it does not benefit Palestinians, Prabowo says

JAKARTA/WASHINGTON, March 6 (Reuters) - Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto said he will withdraw from U.S. President Donald Trump's "Board of Peace" if it does not benefit Palestinians, according to a government statement ‌on Friday, after the Iran war deepened doubts over his country's involvement.

Prabowo, who leads the ‌world's largest Muslim-majority nation, had come under criticism from domestic Muslim groups for agreeing to join the board and provide troops to a Gaza stabilization force, under a Trump-brokered ceasefire deal that ended the two-year Israel-Hamas war.

A U.S. official on Friday confirmed that the security situation in the Middle East could affect the timing of deployments to the international stabilization force, which was authorized by the U.N. Security Council with Indonesia as a leading contributor.

"While some ISF ‌deployment timelines may shift due to ⁠the situation on the ground, discussions with our Indonesian partners continue," a Trump administration official told Reuters when asked about doubts over Indonesia's role.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono said ⁠on Tuesday that all discussions about the Board of Peace, which will oversee the creation of the stabilization force, had been halted due to the Iran war.

Prabowo gathered leaders of local Islamic groups for a meeting on Thursday evening where he reiterated his reasoning behind joining the board, according to a statement put out by the ‌government communication office.

Prabowo will withdraw from the board if it does not benefit Palestinian and Indonesian interests, the statement quoted Hanif Alatas of the Islamic Brotherhood Front as saying.

"The president said that if he sees that there is no longer any benefit for Palestine ... and that it is not in line with Indonesia's national interests, he will withdraw," Hanif said in the statement.

The U.S. commander of the stabilization force, which is meant ‌to help rebuild the Palestinian territory, said last month that his deputy would be Indonesian.

The Indonesian Ulema Council, a leading clerical body, had previously called for Indonesia to exit the board due to the U.S. role in the Iran war. Critics have ‌said Indonesia's participation also compromises its long-standing support for the Palestinian cause.

Nahdlatul Ulama, the country's largest Muslim group, said Indonesia's government could use its role on the board to encourage de-escalation in the Middle East.

"Indonesia could declare that the (board's) agenda is on hold until there are talks on de-escalation and ‌peace from the American-Israeli war against Iran," the group's chief, Yahya Cholil Staquf, said in a statement issued by Prabowo's office late on Thursday.

(Reporting by Stanley Widianto, Stefanno Sulaiman and Simon Lewis; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan and Edmund Klamann)

byGreen Magazine

in

March 06, 2026

Indonesia will quit Trump's Board of Peace if it does not benefit Palestinians, Prabowo says

JAKARTA/WASHINGTON, March 6 (Reuters) - Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto said he will withdraw from U.S. Presid...

Noem's firing is little comfort to Minneapolis residents struggling to recover from crackdown

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Daniel Hernandez's grocery store in south Minneapolis has served Latino families for over 5 years, but he says it's on the verge of closing due to lasting economic damage from the nation's largest immigration enforcement crackdown.

Minnesota civil rights activist Nekima Levy Armstrong, center left, and Jaylani Hussein, executive director of the Minnesota chapter of the Council on Islamic-American Relations, speak at a news conference in Minneapolis on Friday, March 6, 2026, on the ouster of Kristi Noem as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. (AP Photo/Steve Karnowski)

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, center, with her husband Bryon Noem, right, seated behind her, appears for an oversight hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, March 3, 2026. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Noem Minnesota

Many of Hernandez's customers have continued to stay home or drastically reduce their spending, and 10 of the 12 Latino small businesses that rent space from him remain shuttered, he said in an interview Friday. Even though President Donald Trump's administration scaled back the crackdown earlier, and the presidentfired Kristi Noemas homeland security secretary on Thursday, many are still feeling the ripple effects.

Hernandez, an immigrant from Mexico, said only one business, an Ecuadorian ice cream shop, has been able to reopen since December,when the immigration crackdown began.

"I don't know if my business will survive, being honest," Hernandez said. "The amount of damage is so big that I am afraid."

The fall of Noem

Noem was pushed out amid mounting criticism over her leadership, including her handling of the crackdown and the aftermath of the shooting deaths of two Minneapolis residents by federal officers, Renee Good and Alex Pretti.

It's not clear how many Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal officers are left in Minnesotaafter peaking around 3,000at the height of the surge. Noem put the number at 650 in her congressional testimony this week.

But U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar told Minnesota Public Radio that White House border czar Tom Homan called her to say that total was incorrect, and they've cut backto their original numberof a little over 100 ICE officers, plus some additional agents working on fraud investigations.

ICE and Homeland Security officials did not immediately respond to emails seeking details Friday.

Many businesses are still struggling

Like Hernandez's Colonial Market, many businesses owned by immigrants or that cater to them are still struggling from sharp drops in sales.

"Instead of spending $150, now they spend $30, $40," Hernandez said.

Other customers stopped coming in altogether — either because they were afraid of being detained, regardless of their legal status, or because money is tight from being unable to work.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said last month that small businesses have collectively lost tens of millions of dollars in revenue. He estimated the federal immigration operation cost thecity's economy $203 millionin January alone and led 76,000 people to experience food insecurity.

Activists credit community organizing

"We warn our community that the fight is not over," said Jaylani Hussein, a Somali American who is executive director of the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, at a news conference Friday. "It is a good day to say good riddance to Kristi Noem. But it's not a good day to walk away from the fight."

The sense among many activists is that the intense community organizing against the surge played a decisive role in the administration backing down. And they say it sparked the formation of strong neighborhood networks that will live on and continue to push for social justice.

Minneapolis resident Patty O'Keefe, who wasdetainedin January for following a federal officer's vehicle, said she's happy to see Noem go but it will take more to bring about real change.

"It's a sign that we're winning, that the Trump administration feels like they have to make a change to save face because they're losing public support and losing the narrative," she said. "And I think it's a testament to the hard work of Minnesotans who fought back against this war of political retribution and xenophobia that has been and continues to be waged against us."

Brandon Sigüenza, who was detained with O'Keefe, said the mood isn't celebratory because the crackdown is ongoing.

"I don't think Minneapolitans are necessarily dancing in the streets. Because there's still no justice for Renee Good, there's still no justice for Alex Pretti," Sigüenza said.

Minneapolis psychologist Lucy Olson helped organize a covert grassroots network that swelled to 2,000 volunteers assisting around 500 immigrant families with legal matters, shelter, food and rent assistance. She said that after the crackdown, the mutual aid systems that formed will continue to respond to community needs.

"For those of us who had the honor of participating as volunteers, I think we will never be the same," Olson said. "I think there's been cross-cultural friendships, the opportunity to build out neighborhood networks that have changed the face of our city."

Charges still against 39 indicted in church protest

Nekima Levy Armstrong,a local civil rights activist and lawyer, said at the news conference with Hussein that Noem should have been fired after the deaths of Good and Pretti.

Levy Armstrong, an ordained nondenominational Christian reverend, is also one of39 people indictedfor their alleged roles in aprotest in Januaryat a St. Paul church where a pastor, David Easterwood, is a top local ICE official. She said that she'd been praying for a day like Thursday when Noem was fired.

"So while we celebrate the fact that this woman has been removed from her high perch — where she thought she was untouchable, she thought she could literally allow these agents to get away with murder — we recognize that this system is very broken," Levy Armstrong said.

Safety for school children

Brenda Lewis, superintendent of Fridley Public Schools in suburban Minneapolis, said Noem's firing "doesn't really matter" because the safety of children in her school district is still impacted.

Fridley, which has students from many Somali and Ecuadorian families, has been the site of heightened ICE activity over the past two months. Federal vehicles were found in neighborhoods near the schools and at the homes of school board members.

Of the around 2,700 students in the district, more than 112 have unenrolled, Lewis said. Another 400 are in virtual learning. The district has also lost $130,000 in revenue because of lower participation in meal programs.

"It's not a Democrat or a Republican issue," Lewis said. "It's about children's safety, and we need to really come together and ensure that this absolute removal of safety for school children by a federal agency can never ever happen again in the state or the country."

GOP lawmakers in Minnesota have muted reaction

While the state's top Republican leaders had generally supported Noem's leadership of the surge, they've been mostly silent on her downfall. A message seeking comment from U.S. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer — the state's most powerful Republican — was not immediately returned Friday.

But GOP state Sen. Jim Abeler, a moderate from suburban Anoka, noted that he wrote Noem in January expressing "grave concerns" about actions by some of her officers in Minnesota.

"With her departure, I hope that what happened in Minnesota won't happen anywhere else," Abeler said in a statement.

Brook reported from New Orleans, while Raza reported from Sioux Falls, S.D.

byGreen Magazine

in

March 06, 2026

Noem's firing is little comfort to Minneapolis residents struggling to recover from crackdown

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Daniel Hernandez's grocery store in south Minneapolis has served Latino families for over 5 years,...

Man Sends Handwritten Letters to Strangers on the Internet for 'Heavy' Reason: 'I Know How It Feels to Be Alone' (Exclusive)

London-based student Utsav Batteneni, 23, went viral for sharing candid videos about grief, loneliness and life while riding his bike

Utsav Batteneni smiles for the cameraCredit: Ashutosh Patwardhan

NEED TO KNOW

As viewers began messaging him about their own struggles, he started writing handwritten letters to strangers who reached out for support
Batteneni says the simple gesture is meant to remind people they're not alone, something he wished he had during his own difficult moments

When strangers messageUtsav Batteneniabout grief, loneliness or the struggles they're quietly carrying, he doesn't always reply with a quick comment or emoji. Sometimes, he reaches for a pen.

The 23-year-old master's student, who lives in London, has begun writing handwritten letters to people who reach out to him online — a small but deeply personal gesture he hopes reminds them they're not alone.

"Letters was something personal, it's just me," Batteneni, 23, tells PEOPLE exclusively. "I know how it feels to be alone, I know how it feels to suffer without family. I understand how it feels to be battling for dreams when there is no hope left."

That understanding comes from his own life experience.

Originally from a small village in India, Batteneni grew up as an only child while his parents worked hard to support the family. Cycling became a constant in his life from a young age — and so did documenting his thoughts.

Years later, those reflections turned into candid social media videos.

In the clips — often filmed while riding his bike — Batteneni speaks openly about grief, mental health and the challenges of starting over in a new country.

Even though he had often spent time alone growing up, he says moving abroad brought a different kind of isolation.

"Being around such [an] environment and moving here having zero connections to talk to was quite depressing for me," Batteneni, who's cultivated a following of nearly 200,000 on Instagram, says.

The transition became even harder when tragedy struck, as within the span of a year, Batteneni lost three family members.

"Emotionally, I was dead," he says. "I was grieving and feeling much worse day by day, all by myself, alone in the gloomy, cold weather."

During that time, he says he struggled with depression and eventually sought help through university support services and the U.K.'s National Health Service.

He also leaned on small routines to help him cope — exercising, cycling, cooking meals he loved and pushing himself to be around other people.

"I tried everything I can to get myself out of it," he says.

When Batteneni began sharing his thoughts online, his honesty quickly resonated with viewers. Then people started reaching out with their own stories.

"Earlier, I literally had no idea how tough situations people are battling through," he says. "I get messages from people saying their just born baby passed away, and I dunno what to say in that minute to that mother. No amount of words from me can change the pain of that family there."

Other messages describe job loss, family tragedies or people feeling overwhelmed by life, and he admits, "It's just too much to handle to see these messages sometimes."

Utsav Batteneni smiles at the cameraCredit: Ashutosh Patwardhan

Reading them can be emotionally overwhelming.

"I'm [an] emotionally loud person, and I cry at times looking at these," he says, adding that he sometimes needs time to recharge after absorbing so many personal stories.

Still, the messages made him realize how many people were searching for connection — so he decided to respond in a more meaningful way.

In a link shared on his social media accounts, Batteneni invited anyone who might be struggling to reach out to him.

"If you're reading this, maybe you needed to," he wrote. "I don't know who you are yet, but I know what it feels like to carry things alone."

In the message, he explained that he had come to appreciate the power of small moments of human connection while juggling his hectic everyday life.

"There were times when I didn't need advice or motivation," he wrote. "I just needed someone to sit with me in it and remind me that I wasn't alone."

So he offered to do exactly that.

"If life feels heavy, confusing, or quiet in a way that hurts, I'll write you a handwritten letter," he wrote. "Proper pen and paper. My words, written slowly, just for you."

He emphasized that the gesture comes with no expectations.

"There's nothing to buy and nothing to promote," he wrote. "This is just one person reaching out to another, the old-fashioned way."

Looking back, Batteneni believes those same emotions are why his videos resonate with so many people.

"Humans, in the end, we relate to each other through our emotions and experiences," he says.

One message from a viewer, in particular, has stayed with him.

"Someone said 'thank you for existing,' " he recalls. "And that lives in my mind rent-free."

Hearing that, he says, made him realize the impact his words could have on people he may never meet in person.

"It's mind-blowing to hear that from someone I've never met," he says. "How can a video less than 60 seconds let a person say that to me?"

For Batteneni, moments like that are what keep him sharing his story — and writing back. Because sometimes, he says, what people need most isn't advice; it's simply knowing someone else is listening.

If you or someone you know needs mental health help, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.

Read the original article onPeople

byGreen Magazine

in

March 06, 2026

Man Sends Handwritten Letters to Strangers on the Internet for 'Heavy' Reason: 'I Know How It Feels to Be Alone' (Exclusive)

London-based student Utsav Batteneni, 23, went viral for sharing candid videos about grief, loneliness and life while rid...

Tyla has wowed fans with yet another jaw-dropping Instagram story, this time showing off a stunning bikini look. The "Chanel" hitmaker recently shared a collage of snapshots capturing her enjoying a fun beach day in this gorgeous swimsuit. The star also held a large pink rose, adding to the dreamy aesthetic of the photoshoot.

Tyla turns heads in bikini pictures

Take a look at Tyla's recent Instagram story right here:

The four-photo collage shows Tyla rocking a two-piece pink string bikini. The stunning swimwear showcased her sculpted physique and flawless skin as she posed with a pink rose against the scenic backdrop of the ocean and a stunning sunset.

Tyla's Instagram story arrives shortly after she attended the 57th NAACP Image Awards at Pasadena Civic Auditorium on Saturday night. The singer turned heads at the ceremony, wearing a form-fitting, floor-length black slip dress. Other stars in attendance included Teyana Taylor, Keke Palmer, Halle Bailey, and more.

Originally reported by Namrata Ghosh onMandatory

The postTyla Unwinds on the Beach in Bikini Amid NAACP Image Awards Winappeared first onReality Tea.

byGreen Magazine

in

March 06, 2026

Tyla Unwinds on the Beach in Bikini Amid NAACP Image Awards Win

Tyla has wowed fans with yet another jaw-dropping Instagram story, this time showing off a stunning bikini look. The "Chanel" hit...

Duchess Meghan ends Netflix collaboration on

Duchess Meghan's lifestyle brand is parting ways with Netflix, representatives for the royal and streaming giant confirmed Friday, March 6.

The Duchess of Sussex and the streaming giant collaborated on the launch of theAs Everbrand in 2025, following the release of the Netflix series "With Love, Meghan."

A spokesperson for As Ever told USA TODAY that the split comes as the brand is now ready to stand on its own, teasing "an exciting year ahead," but thanked Netflix for its support.

"Meghan's passion for elevating everyday moments in beautiful yet simple ways inspired the creation of the As Ever brand, and we are glad to have played a role in bringing that vision to life," Netflix said in a statement to USA TODAY. "As it was always intended, Meghan will continue growing the brand and take it into its next chapter independently, and we look forward to celebrating how she continues to bring joy to households around the world."

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, attends the Annual Fifteen Percent Pledge Fundraising Gala on Feb. 7, 2026, in Los Angeles.

"With Love, Meghan" ran for two seasons amid a partnership between Netflix andDuchess MeghanandPrince Harry.

Thecouple's joint media venture, Archewell Productions, announceda multi-year extension of its film and television projects with Netflix, which also included a movie adaptation of the romance novel "Meet Me at the Lake."

"My husband and I feel inspired by our partners who work closely with us and our Archewell Productions team to create thoughtful content across genres that resonates globally, and celebrates our shared vision," Duchess Meghan said.

Stars are descending upon Park City for Sundance, one last time.

The film festival is underway and has so far been packed with A-listers, including Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan. The pair turned out for the premiere of "Cookie Queens," a Girl Scouts documentary from their company Archewell Productions. Charli XCX also premiered her new film "The Moment," a mockumentary based on her "Brat" era, in which she plays a fictional version of herself.

Sundance 2026 will mark the final edition of the festival in its longtime home of Utah before it moves to Boulder, Colorado, starting in 2027.

Scroll through for the best celebrity photos from Sundance 2026 so far, starting with, from left, Prince Harry, director Alysa Nahmias and Duchess Meghan attending the premiere of "Cookie Queens" on Jan. 25, 2026.