President: Ceasefire On 'Life Support'; Trump Says He'll Suspend Fed Gas Tax | NTD Newsroom (May 11)

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[00:00:01]Welcome to NTD Newsroom. I'm Don Ma.

[00:00:04]President Trump slamming Iran's latest counter offer as totally unacceptable.

[00:00:08]What he says about the current state of the ceasefire and the Iranian leadership. The man accused of trying to assassinate President Trump at the correspondents dinner is pleading not guilty in court as his lawyers try to knock out top prosecutors off the case.

[00:00:24]Over a dozen individuals exposed to the Hent virus are now in quarantine in Nebraska. What health officials say about the risk level for people across the US.

[00:00:34]Russia and Ukraine accusing each other of violating a three-day US brokered ceasefire. Both sides claim hundreds of attacks took place during the temporary truce as President Trump pushes for the ceasefire to be extended.

[00:00:47]Congress returns to Washington this week with hearings focused on China national security, CO oversight, defense spending, and border enforcement.

[00:00:55]Lawmakers are also advancing new funding plans for ICE and Customs and Border Protection.

[00:01:02]A record number of Americans are expected to travel this Memorial Day weekend. TripleA says nearly 40 million people will hit the roads while millions more are expected to fly as the summer travel season begins.

[00:01:23]This is NTV Newsroom live from our global headquarters in New York City.

[00:01:32]Good afternoon and thank you for joining us. President Trump calling Iran's response to the US peace proposal unacceptable and stupid. The president expressing his disappointment during an event at the White House today.

[00:01:44]>> For the time being, the ceasefire remains in place.

[00:01:47]>> It's unbelievably weak. I would say I would call it the weakest right now.

[00:01:55]After reading the piece of garbage they sent us, I didn't even finish reading it. They said I'm going to waste my time reading it. I would say it's one of the weakest right now. It's on life support.

[00:02:06]They understand these are all medical people and Dr. life support is not a good thing. Do you agree?

[00:02:12]>> Bag prognostic. I would say the ceasefire is on massive life support where the doctor walks in and says, "Sir, your loved one has approximately a 1% chance of living."

[00:02:26]>> In its response, the Iranian regime demanded compensation for war damage, emphasized its sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, and called on the US to end its naval blockade, as well as guarantee no further attacks, lift sanctions, and remove a ban on Iranian oil sales. The president says the US is currently dealing with the third level of Iranian leadership which he calls dishonorable and unreasonable.

[00:02:50]Trump adds that the US has killed Iranian leaders at the first level, second level, and half of the third level.

[00:02:57]>> When they sent us this document that we waited 4 days for that should have taken 10 minutes to do it, look very simple.

[00:03:04]We get that. They guarantee no nuclear weapons for a very long period of time and a couple of other minor things, but they just can't get there. So, they agree with us and then they take it back.

[00:03:17]>> The president also expressing disappointment with the Kurds, an ethnic minority in Iran backed by the US. He says the US sent weapons and ammunition to the Kurds to be delivered to Iranian protesters, but the Kurds kept the weapons. Meanwhile, US Central Command says it's continuing to enforce the US blockade against Iranian ports. So far, US forces have redirected 62 commercial ships and disabled four to ensure compliance.

[00:03:45]To break this down, we're bringing in Entities Washington correspondent Jack Bradley. Jack, where does this standoff go from here?

[00:03:54]Well, President Trump says that this week's long ceasefire is now on life support. So, it could end any moment.

[00:04:01]That's after Thrron responded to the most recent US peace proposal and President Trump calling that response just frankly unacceptable. Take a look.

[00:04:11]>> It was just unacceptable. They have no air force. They have no anti-aircraft.

[00:04:16]Now they probably put the shoulder jobs on into service over the last three weeks probably but essentially they have no anti-aircraft. They have no radar and frankly their leaders have been killed at the first level, second level and half at the third level and uh then they come back and they want to negotiate and they give us a stupid it's a stupid proposal and nobody would take it. But the plan is that they cannot have a nuclear weapon and they didn't say that in their letter.

[00:04:49]>> Now, the ceasefire between the US and Iran went into effect last month, which ended weeks of US and Israeli strikes on the country that started over two months ago. Now, since then, the US and Israel killed dozens of high-ranking Iranian officials, including the country's top leader, the Ayatollah Kimemeni, decimating the Iranian military, navy, and their most one of their most vital aspects, missile launchers. They have uh stockpiles of ballistic missiles that they can't really launch without those launchers. Now, President Trump says that the ceasefire may not hold out for long at this point. Take a look.

[00:05:26]>> Unbelievably weak. I always say I would call it the weakest right now after reading the piece of garbage they sent us. I didn't even finish reading it.

[00:05:37]They said I'm not going to waste my time reading it. I would say it's one of the weakest right now it's on life support.

[00:05:46]>> What Trump wants to see in a deal here, what he's made known so far is that Iran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon. He also demanded that Iran's nuclear material be removed from Iran completely. And if not, the US and Israel could respond with military force. Now, the US military has imposed a naval blockade uh on Iranian ports in that straight of Hormuz uh with the US Central Command blocking over 60 commercial ships thus far. Now, the straight of Hormuz has effectively remained closed in the meantime and has sent oil prices surging. Now, President Trump has said that he would suspend the federal gas tax to bring prices down, which have reached over $4.50 50 cents a gallon according to AAA. Take a take a look at this.

[00:06:29]>> Mr. President, are you going to suspend the federal gas tax?

[00:06:32]>> Uh yeah, I'm going to uh reduce until the Let me tell you, as soon as this is over with Iran, as soon as it's over, you're going to see uh gasoline and oil drop like a rock. Going to be dropping down like a rock.

[00:06:47]>> How long are you gonna suspend that tax for?

[00:06:50]>> Uh till it's appropriate. Yeah. Till >> Mr. It's a it's a you know it's a small percentage but it's a you know it's still money.

[00:07:00]>> Now the federal gas tax is over 18 cents a gallon while the tax on diesel is over 24 cents a gallon but no word yet on when that will be pushed off but when it is it'll be frankly indefinitely until it's uh the war is over. Don >> so Jack President Trump is scheduled to meet with CCP leader Xi Jinping this week on Thursday and Friday. What can we expect out of that?

[00:07:24]>> Now, this is Trump's first visit to China since 2017. There's been some bla bad blood uh after Trump's last visit to China when uh the Chinese Communist Party covered up the CO 19 uh virus outbreak uh and allowed that to spread uh by closing down their domestic flights and opening up their international flights. Uh but the Trump administration has urged the Chinese regime and particularly on Iran to help get that straight of Hormuz open. But so far, Beijing has been unresponsive.

[00:07:53]They've been discussing a range of other topics uh as well. Later this week, um from trade to Taiwan to China's human rights abuses and freeing several of their political and religious prisoners, uh President Trump named Jimmy Lie and Pastor Ezra Jyn. Now, Trump is also expected to secure new trade agreements with China uh in several industries including aerospace, agriculture, and en energy as well. So, a lot more to look forward to on this trip, Don.

[00:08:22]>> All right, Jack. Thank you.

[00:08:26]President Trump saying today that he wants to pause the 18 cent federal tax on gas for a period of time, adding that the tax will return once prices go down.

[00:08:36]The president saying at the morning press conference that this will help address high fuel prices due to the Iran war. According to AAA, the national average gas reached $4.52 per gallon today.

[00:08:49]And a second suspected oil slick has been detected near Iran's Car Island export hub. The discovery raising fresh concerns over a possible environmental disaster in a key global oil corridor.

[00:09:01]Maritime intelligence firm Wind Ward AI says the new slick spans about 5 to eight square miles. A larger spill first identified earlier this month covers roughly 25 square miles and is believed to be crude oil. UN officials warned the situation could escalate into a major environmental crisis. The larger slick is drifting toward Gulf waters near Saudi Arabia and potentially the United Arab Emirates in the coming days.

[00:09:28]Experts say the spill may be linked to aging infrastructure or pipeline damage.

[00:09:33]Officials caution that slower water circulation in the Gulf could allow pollution to linger, threatening coastal communities, fisheries, and desalinization systems.

[00:09:45]The Treasury is warning financial institutions about the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps's ongoing efforts to evade US sanctions. The advisory comes amid concerns that the US conflict with Iran could escalate. The Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network said it issued the alert to assist financial institutions in identifying networks supporting the IRGC. According to the Treasury, the IRGC uses front companies, digital asset infrastructure, and other service providers to circumvent US sanctions.

[00:10:16]The advisory comes as President Trump warns that the ceasefire is on life support with Iran after rejecting the regime's response to a US peace proposal. And to talk to us about the latest on the Iran war, joining us is Daniel Lay, chief economist at Tresis, international financial analyst and author of the book The New Global Economic Order. Daniel, good afternoon.

[00:10:38]Always great to have you. Hope you had a nice weekend. So, I saw your article, your your latest art article about Iran.

[00:10:44]You're saying that it has already lost.

[00:10:46]Uh, what are your reasons for saying this?

[00:10:50]>> Uh, thank you very much. I think that the first and obvious is that the Iranian economy was already in a very dreadful state before the war and is now completely demolished. Uh there's massive layoffs. Uh the decision of the Iranian regime to shut down the internet has demolished the private sector and small shops. On top of that, it has about 60% official inflation, which should be closer to 100% inflation. Once we look at, for example, groceries, food, etc. There are massive shortages.

[00:11:27]On top of that, it's nuclear uh program has been completely destroyed and uh the economy cannot survive without the straight of Hormuz. The Iranian regime tried to use the weapon of the straight of Hormuz as its ace. And what we have found is actually the opposite is that the most dependent on the straight of Hormuz is the Iranian regime. 60% of government revenues depend on the exports of the straight of Hormuz and about 25% of the GDP of the country. So 60% of uh fiscal revenues, 25% of the GDP and 80% of exports depend on a strait that has been blocked by the United States and that is leaving the Iranian economy in a complete disaster.

[00:12:21]>> And on top of that, you said uh the closure of the straight of the horm less and less uh with each passing day. Can you talk to us about this?

[00:12:32]>> Yes, I think that this is a crucial element. The decision of the US government to delay negotiations and to take more time with the closure of the strait also adds to the fact that for the global economy the straight of hormuz matters less every day about 80% of the volumes that were uh traded and transported through the strait have now been rerouted or offset by US exports and this is a critical element What the Iranian regime did not count with was with the fact that the United States now is exporting a record 8.2 million barrels a day of petroleum products and also exporting fertilizers and the uh very important uh jet fuel element that was one of the things that the Iranian regime was counting on blocking for Europe. So all those elements are uh very very significant.

[00:13:35]The straight of Hormuz now for most uh shipping companies is an unsafe and unacceptable travel arrangement.

[00:13:46]And for transport, what they're looking at is to look for any other alternative, which may be more uh expensive, but certainly better to pay a little bit more than to have the level of insecurity that Iran has uh imposed on the strait.

[00:14:04]>> So you you're you're saying Iran depends on the straight for its own economy. So it's kind of funny, right? Because is it sort of shooting itself in the foot by actually blocking the waterway?

[00:14:17]>> Absolutely. Because if you think about it, Iran's sort of strategic weapon was to shut down the straight of Hormuz for everybody except for themselves. And by doing that, they actually showed their biggest weakness because they counted on the idea that they would be able to uh eliminate the possibility of other ships moving through the strait, but that they would be uh without any problem sending all of their exports to China, to the to Asia, etc. And what ended up happening is that by focusing on the straight of hormuz as the choking point of the global economy, they actually showed to the world that it was their biggest weakness and it is their uh biggest weakness because unlike the rest of the world, Iran can do nothing in terms of for example using alternative routes. It has to use the straight of Hormuz or send some of its exports via road or train which obviously cannot even start to compensate the volumes that they were moving and that is meaning now that the refining sector in Iran is completely destroyed and that they have had to start to shut down production because they don't know what to do with the level of production that they were in that they were undertaken. taken prior to to the shutdown.

[00:15:52]>> So, let me ask ask you this. If if Iran's ability to threaten the strait erodess, does it have anything left other than that?

[00:16:01]>> It doesn't have anything left. The only thing that they have left is the threat that they will continue with the nuclear program. But by now, we know that all of their nuclear facilities have been completely destroyed. So they don't have anything because uh the the we have to remember and we have to go back in time and find that Iran little by little in the past 10 years has become such an unreliable partner in terms of trade for so many economies that the only thing that they really had left was oil exports and petroleum product exports and that their main customer was China.

[00:16:45]It wasn't even that they had a strong base of customers that could put some pressure on the United States. So all of that has left Iran as an unreliable partner for most of the global economies and on top of that a very unsafe actually adversarial uh partner in OPEC.

[00:17:07]>> And just one last thing, can you speak to to what extent have American exports right now already offset horm volumes?

[00:17:14]Can you talk a bit about that?

[00:17:17]>> Think about this. Uh Iran exports around 1.3 million barrels a day of oil. Uh the United States has increased its exports of petroleum products from 2 million barrels a day to 4 and a half and now it's at a record level of 8.2. So basically just between the United States, the increase in production of Emirates and the increase in production of Saudi Arabia, the entire production of Iran, which is 3.5 million barrels a day, has been completely offset.

[00:17:52]Obviously, Iran exported a fraction of that production. A lot of it was for internal demand. So uh the the impact in terms of global supply is very very limited and what we can see is that obviously there is a price there is a a cost and we see it every day in oil prices but the reason why oil prices are not much higher is precisely because every day between Emirates, Saudi Arabia, the rest of OPEC and obviously the United States all of them can completely offset the volumes from Iran in terms of volume and quality because the the the the quality of the Iranian crude can be offset with different uh members of OPEC.

[00:18:41]>> And I think what's bad for Iran and great for the world energy economy is that if the US resumes project freedom, this is the escorts of uh of vessels transiting the straight of Hormuz uh by US naval ships. uh that that will also um you know make the situation worse for Iran and better for the rest of the world. Okay, Daniel, always great to speak with you. Thank you very much for your time today.

[00:19:08]>> Thank you very much. Absolutely.

[00:19:10]>> A clash over military secrecy. War Secretary Pete Hexath is accusing Democratic Senator Mark Kelly of improperly disclosing US weapon stockpiles. This comes after Kelly said on CBS that it could take years to replenish munitions used during the Iran war. Hexa's calling Kelly's remarks blabbing about a classified Pentagon briefing, adding that Pentagon legal council will review the comments. Hexath also questioning whether Kelly violated his oath. Quote, again, the clash comes amid an ongoing dispute over whether Hexath has the authority to strip Kelly of his rank or pay. This after the senator appeared in a video last November with several Democratic lawmakers encouraging troops to reject what they called illegal orders. The lawmakers did not specify which order they were referring to.

[00:20:01]National Police Week is underway. FBI Director Cash Patel kicking off the annual occasion which honors law enforcement across the country. Over this last year, I've had the privilege of meeting countless federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement officers across the nation.

[00:20:19]Without exception, these men and women are the reason we are the safest we've been in a long time. Every day, they put on the badge and uniform and do their jobs with honor, integrity, and dedication to the communities they call home.

[00:20:34]>> National Police Week takes a place every May. The tradition dates back to President John F. Kennedy in 1962.

[00:20:41]Events honoring law enforcement include a candlelight vigil and peace officers memorial day on on May 15th at the US capital. The Fraternal Order of Police says National Police Week celebrates the men and women who serve with integrity and bravery every day. The organization says the event quote reminds us that behind every badge is a story of service, sacrifice, and family.

[00:21:04]The suspect accused of attempting to assassinate President Trump at the White House correspondents dinner has pleaded not guilty. He faces charges including attempted assassination of the president, assault on a federal officer, and weapons charges. Prosecutors say Cole Allen shot a Secret Service agent at he as he attempted to storm through a security checkpoint at the Washington Hilton, which was hosting the event.

[00:21:27]Attorneys for Allen are asking the judges to dismiss US attorney Janine Piro and acting attorney general Todd Blanch from the case. Lawyers say their presence in the ballroom at the time of the attack makes them witness who can't be called to testify. Allen's attorneys also say their relationship with President Trump constitutes a conflict of interest if convicted. Allan faces life in prison and hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines. Some political turmoil in the Philippines. The country's House of Representatives voting to impeach Vice President Sarah Duterte today. The move coming over the alleged unexplained wealth, misuse of state funds, and alleged threats to have the president assassinated.

[00:22:11]The House is dominated by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s allies. The 47year-old Duterte was once an ally of Marcos, but is now his bitter rival. She is ahead in polling for the 2028 Philippine presidential election to replace him. The daughter of former president Rodrigo Duterte announcing her candidacy in February. The two impeachment complaints against Duterte now moved to the Senate which will convene into a tribunal for her trial.

[00:22:40]She will be disqualified from holding public office if she is convicted. She has denied any wrongdoing.

[00:22:50]Russia and Ukraine are accusing each other of violating a three-day ceasefire brokered by the United States. Ukraine accuses Russia of carrying out drone attacks and nearly 150 battlefield clashes during the ceasefire. Ukraine's president Zalinski saying yesterday that Russia is not observing the truce. He said an absence of large-scale Russian attacks meant Ukraine refrained from long range attacks in retaliation. But he added Ukraine would respond in the same manner if Russia returns to full-scale warfare. Meanwhile, Russia alleges Ukraine carried out nearly 1,200 strikes plus 7,000 drone attacks during the truce, which is set to expire today.

[00:23:28]The US brokered ceasefire also includes a prisoner exchange involving 1,000 prisoners from each side. On Saturday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he believes the war in Ukraine is nearing an end. President Trump announcing the ceasefire on Friday, saying he personally requested the pause in attacks.

[00:23:46]The president also saying he hopes the temporary ceasefire receives a big extension.

[00:23:52]Prime Minister Kier Starmer making an impassioned plea for voters and the Labor Party to stick with him. Starmer today saying he takes responsibility for one of the worst defeats for Labor in last week's local elections. I know that people are frustrated by the state of Britain, frustrated by politics and some people frustrated with me.

[00:24:20]I know I have my doubters and I know I need to prove them wrong and I will.

[00:24:28]The Labour Party lost hundreds of seats in local elections to councils in England and the parliaments in Scotland and Wales. Starmer promised to be bolder to turn around Britain's fortunes. He vowed a complete break with the decision-making of the past that led to the status quo. Some labor lawmakers have talked about removing Starmer. One junior minister threatened to seek a leadership contest if Star failed to offer radical change. The minister today instead asking labor lawmakers to back the idea of setting out a timetable for him to stand down.

[00:25:03]And to talk about the CCP's transnational repression tactics, joining us now is Benedict Rogers, senior director at Fortify Rights, co-founder of Hong Kong Watch, and author of the book The China Nexus: 30 years in and around the Chinese Communist Party's tyranny. So Ben, always great to have you here. Good afternoon to you. Now, I saw your article titled My Personal Encounter with China's Dangerous Spice. So, I I want to start off if you if you would like. Um just give us a brief description of that encounter.

[00:25:36]>> Yes. Well, this is the latest encounter I've had. I've had previous uh incidents of uh harassment and intimidation in various forms, but this one was the closest to home because basically just over a week ago, I opened my front door.

[00:25:51]Um, I stepped out of my home. I was actually going for my regular morning swim and I cycled to the swimming pool and I was in the process of uh getting onto my bicycle and a Chinese woman came running down my street in a suburb of London uh stopped a few meters away from me uh and pointed her cell phone directly at me and clearly took multiple photographs of me.

[00:26:18]>> Did you contact the authorities about this?

[00:26:21]Uh I did I contacted both the regular police uh and on the advice of a number of uh contacts I contacted the uh counterterrorism police which has a special unit to deal with transnational repression and I have to say the police were very responsive. I had about four phone calls that day with different units of the police. um they took a full statement and I'm now waiting for their advice on uh what what what their analysis is and what they recommend uh next, but they were initially very responsive.

[00:26:54]>> Okay. So, you step outside your home, you see this woman with a cell phone pointed at you. How how do you know this this woman is a Chinese spy?

[00:27:03]>> I don't know for certain. I mean, I wasn't able to uh I was so caught off off guard uh by her that uh I didn't um talk to her. I didn't confront her, but uh she was clearly Chinese. She was clearly taking a photograph of me. Um and also I I should say that I had noticed her in the neighborhood a few days before and she had given uh me a very long, cold, hard stare um on that occasion. Um and I suspect she was monitoring my movements because uh how else would she know that I uh left my home at at that particular time each each morning? Um, I can't prove conclusively based on that that uh she was a Chinese spy, but certainly her behavior indicates uh that that was her intention and I can't think of any other motive for her to uh come and photograph me in front of my home.

[00:27:53]>> Yeah, it's extremely suspicious and you noted in your in your article that um you you said this um your own experiences are nothing compared to the sustained threats to the diaspora communities. Um so can you elaborate a bit on that? What are some examples um that you've seen uh the kinds of intimidation faced by you know communities like Hong Kongers, weaguers, Tibetans or other groups?

[00:28:19]>> Yes, I mean certainly what they have experienced is far more serious than what I've experienced. Uh there are a number of Hong Kongers now who have uh bounties on their heads and arrest warrants for them issued by the Hong Kong authorities. Um there's a Hong Kong activist Carman Lao in the UK who uh letters were sent to her neighbors um basically offering them a reward for handing her over to the Chinese embassy.

[00:28:46]Uh there were also appalling uh sexually explicit um AI generated images that were also sent to her neighbors uh about her. Um, and that's just one example that there have been people like uh Ted Hoy in Australia who've also uh experienced abuse. And of course for Hong Kongers, Tibetans and Weaggguers uh one of the most serious aspects of transnational repression is if they have family still back home and of course for mainland Chinese exiles also uh if they have family back home then weaponizing their family against them, arresting their family members, calling them in for questioning, harassing uh them uh is is one of the worst forms and that must cause them huge worry for their relatives. I don't have uh family in Hong Kong or China. I don't have assets there. I don't have anything there apart from obviously some friends. But um so I I'm the consequences for me and I'm I live in London. The consequences for me are much less serious than they are for some of the diaspora communities.

[00:29:50]>> Yeah, I mean you're right. It is one of the worst forms of of um repression because we have people here in the company who who who have family back in China. this company at NTD and they're afraid to post their pictures online that they work for NTD because they have family back in China and they're worried about what the CCP can do to their family. It's it's very concerning. How how does Beijing coordinate these these campaigns in in the UK, but not just limited to the UK? These are potentially global campaigns of transnational repression. How does Beijing do this? Is it through embassies, United Workfronts, uh other means? What is it?

[00:30:32]>> Yeah, I I think it's all of those. I think it's partly through embassies and that's why there's been so much concern in recent months about the uh so-called mega embassy, the new embassy that China has been granted here. Um it's also through the United Front Work Department, which of course has its tentacles all over the world. Um and there have also been allegations of um sort of secret police stations that uh the CCP are running uh in different cities around the world. Um and I think they also through the United Front Work Department um use uh members of the diaspora community to spy on each other to harass uh uh other members of of the community. Um so they may not necessarily be officially CCP agents as such but they may be uh employed and tasked uh with with these activities uh at any one time.

[00:31:29]>> Now I understand um you see some right steps in the correct direction when it comes to this issue we're talking about in the UK. talk to us about the landmark conviction of the two Chinese Communist Party agents uh Bill Bill Yuen I think and Peter Y uh under the 2023 National Security Act. Uh talk to us about that.

[00:31:52]>> Yes. Well, this conviction happened just uh last last week, last Thursday. Uh and it is a landmark conviction. It's the first time uh uh Chinese uh spies have officially uh been convicted um in a British court. They've been convicted under the uh relatively new 2023 uh security law in the UK. Uh and they've been convicted of of acting on behalf of a a foreign intelligence agency, i.e. the CCP's intelligence. Um and uh of course we await their sentencing, but they uh were convicted essentially of of uh engaging in all sorts of activities to survey and harass uh diaspora uh communities uh exiled activists particularly in the Hong Kong community in in the UK. Uh and I really welcome uh the um their prosecution and and conviction. And it's I I think a lot of credit should be given both to um Tom Tukenheart who was the minister for security who introduced this law and really tightened up on the legal mechanisms for for dealing with this kind of thing. Uh and also lots of credit to our our own intelligence agencies uh and and the police uh units that were involved in conducting this investigation.

[00:33:12]>> And what do you think is the message that this sends to to China to the CCP and Beijing?

[00:33:19]I think it sends uh rather late in the day, but better late than never, uh a uh very strong and clear message that uh their behavior on British soil, harassing people who are either British citizens or British residents um is not acceptable and will not be tolerated. I think for too long we have been uh rather weak uh in standing up to the CCP and and we've tended to turn a blind eye to this kind of thing. We've had a succession of spy, alleged spy cases uh in recent years, some of which did didn't lead to prosecution. There was one case where the case collapsed. Um but finally, we have a conviction and I think that sends a much more robust message.

[00:34:02]>> All right. On the topic of standing up to the CCP, let me just ask you one final question here and relating to President Trump's meeting with Xiinping coming up this week. In your view, what should be some of the priorities of this meeting?

[00:34:17]I think it should absolutely be a priority as the Congressional Executive Commission on China has said uh and a number of other members of Congress have also said it should be a priority for the president to raise uh a number of key individual cases. Um, in particular, specifically, I hope he will raise the case of Jimmy Lie, of Pastor Ezra Jinn, uh, of a number of Weaguer uh, prisoners who who have relatives in the United States. Uh, all of those individual cases, the president should not just raise the cases as a tickbox exercise, but actually, uh, robustly uh, demand uh, their release. And if anyone has both the the power because of his office, but also the personality uh to um to secure their release, I I think it is Donald Trump and I hope he will make their cases um a top priority.

[00:35:11]>> Right. You're absolutely right. And the question if the question is if Trump doesn't raise the issues, does that embolden China to continue down its path of human rights abuses? Ben, thank you for speaking us speaking with us today.

[00:35:24]Thank you very much.

[00:35:26]>> Thank you.

[00:35:28]>> Congress returns to Washington this week with hearings focused on China, national security, COVID oversight, defense spending, and border enforcement. Senate Republicans are also moving forward with funding plans for ICE and CBP. NTD's Chris Bob reports from Capitol Hill.

[00:35:43]>> The only way you can guarantee a matching organ on a specific date is if you control and the donor dies. The Congressional Executive Commission on China holds a hearing on forced organ harvesting in China. The panel includes senior research fellow Ethan Gutman, former ambassador at large for international religious freedom Sam Brownback, survivor Calonor Sadi, and Epic Times senior editor Yan Ya Kellik.

[00:36:08]Yikell recently published a book on the topic. Built to order China's organ harvesting industry and the true nature of America's biggest adversary, China, that control exists. In a prison system full of political and religious prisoners, especially fallen gong practitioners and ugers, >> there is bipartisan legislation in Congress now to combat this.

[00:36:27]>> A felon gong and victims of forced organ harvesting protection act. Yeah.

[00:36:32]>> And it just does something very simple.

[00:36:33]It sanctions people that are involved in this. Also next week, FBI Director Cash Patel appears before senators to discuss the bureau's 2027 budget request. His testimony comes as the FBI continues investigating the attempted assassination of President Trump at the Washington Hilton during the White House correspondents dinner. We can expect lawmakers to push for more details.

[00:36:54]Secretary of War Pete Hegsath and Joint Chief's Chairman General Dan Kaine return to Capitol Hill for another hearing on the Pentagon's $ 1.5 trillion budget request. This president's budget for 2027 supports the secretary and the department's goal of reinvigorating, recharging the defense industrial base and the national industrial base, enhancing our readiness, and securing our military advantage. A ceasefire is in place in Iran.

[00:37:22]>> The topic of Iran, I'm sure, will come up often today, which I welcome. I look forward to sharing the incredible success of our military effort achieved in a matter of weeks. The Senate Homeland Security Committee plans a hearing featuring whistleblower testimony on CO. Chairman Ran Paul posting on X, quote, "The American people still don't know the full story behind the COVID cover up." Meanwhile, Congress is advancing the next phase of a reconciliation package after they funded other DHS agencies outside of ICE and CBP before recess. Lawmakers considering a reconciliation package totaling roughly $72 billion through 2029, including more than 30 billion for ICE and over three billion for CBP.

[00:38:06]Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley says the legislation would help provide quote certainty for federal law enforcement and safer streets for American families. Reporting from Capitol Hill, Chris Bob, NTD News.

[00:38:20]A bipartisan group of lawmakers is urging President Trump to confront Chinese regime leader Xi Jinping about political prisoners in China. This comes just days ahead of the president's meeting and visit to Beijing. The Congressional Executive Commission on China sent a letter to President Trump today urging him to raise the unjust detentions of Americans lawful US residents and their families in China.

[00:38:43]Congressman Chris Smith, who leads the panel, telling the Epoch Times, quote, "China's use of hostage diplomacy and transnational repression does not stay within China's borders. It affects Americans and their families and is used to silence, intimidate, and coers people beyond China." Smith adds that discussing the issue at the highest level is crucial. The lawmakers named four individuals who are currently detained, including a Chinese pastor, two weaguers, and a US permanent resident. Many of them have family living in the United States. Treasury Secretary Scott Besson says he'll meet with officials in Japan and South Korea before President Trump's meeting with Chinese regime leader Xi Jinping. He announced yesterday that he had a quick series of meetings. He is due to depart today. Besson said on X that he will meet with Japan's prime minister tomorrow and stop in Seoul for talks with China's vice premier Huli. Besson says economic security is national security and that he looks forward to a productive series of engagements. The Trump she summit is scheduled for this Thursday and Friday. The two leaders are expected to discuss Taiwan, the Iran war tariffs and China's purchase of US soybeans and Boeing aircraft.

[00:40:04]A $10,000 offer from a suspected Chinese spy for insider information on US policy. The House Select Committee on China today, saying one of its staffers exposed the incident. The House Committee says a man identifying himself as a Singapore-based business consultant by the name of Chris Chen reached out to one of its staffers this past winter.

[00:40:24]They say the man offered $10,000 in exchange for information about the committee's work and US foreign policy about China, especially regarding Venezuela and rare earth minerals. The House committee says its staffer reported and documented the encounter to the committee, and they are referring the case to the FBI. The panel concludes the man is likely a Chinese intelligence officer or contractor seeking a new recruit. The committee says, quote, "This is exactly why the Select Committee on China exists, to shine a light on the CCP's efforts to infiltrate our institutions and to fight to protect US national security."

[00:41:04]Ahead of President Trump's trip to Beijing, the families of two Americans imprisoned in China for more than a decade are urging the president to seek their release during his meeting with Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping. Here are their stories.

[00:41:18]In Louisiana, a US Army veteran is holding on to hope ahead of President Donald Trump's meeting with China's Xiinping this week and for a deeply personal reason. Nelson Wells Senior is among families urging the president to press for the release of two Americans jailed in China. They are 52-year-old Nelson Wells Jr., a Louisiana father of three and 54year-old Don Michelle Hunt, a Chicago area artist and former flight attendant. Both were convicted on drug charges in cases their families say were blind mule scams where they unknowingly carried narcotics and have been imprisoned for more than a decade. For well senior the weight has been devastating. When a child calls and in a situation like that, you start the feeling, wow, I can't do anything.

[00:42:10]My child needs me and I can't help him.

[00:42:13]I can't do anything. And that's what made me go to the point where I checked out. I didn't care about cancer. I didn't care about my heart. It was all about my son.

[00:42:26]I could not help him. For Trump, securing their release would be a win from a summit expected to be short on outcomes. While Senior believes the president can make that happen. All we need is for somebody from officially high up, not anybody from the bottom ranks, but somebody high up, President Trump to say, "Oh, by the way, I know I got this here going on this, this, that, and the other. But y'all got two of my Americans, their parents, and their their family members that served my country well. Send them back home.

[00:43:02]What can we do to get them back home?"

[00:43:04]The summit comes at a tense moment in US China ties. For both sides, a humanitarian release could be a point of progress. In Chicago, Don Hunt's brother Tim says their appeal is simple and urgent.

[00:43:17]>> They're both sick, you know, and we're just asking for just for that humanity to to overcome everything else. for humanity to overcome politics, to overcome everything, and just bring them home.

[00:43:34]That's all we're asking for.

[00:43:36]>> Families say both detaininees are in declining health. Hunt has developed serious health problems and needs blood transfusions, but is wary of prison doctors and reluctant to consent to surgery. Wells Jr. suffers from seizures, diabetes, high blood pressure, and other complications. Beyond health concerns, their absence is still deeply felt at home. Wells Jr.'s youngest daughter, now 12, has barely known her father. She was six months old when he was arrested, his family said. Tim Hunt says their father died in January, still waiting for his daughter's return.

[00:44:13]>> My dad passed on uh in January, and um I promised him that I was going to that I was going to bring her home.

[00:44:23]And um I want to keep that promise to him so he can rest in peace. I want to keep that promise.

[00:44:36]And coming up this week on May 13th, World Falland Dafa Day, in the run-up to the event, practitioners gathering over the weekend in New York City for a celebration featuring meditation, music, and cultural performances. Entities Nikubani brings us more. Fallon dafa also known as fallong is a spiritual practice rooted in meditation exercises and the principles of truthfulness, compassion and forbearance.

[00:45:03]Practitioners gather this weekend for a celebration ahead of May 13th. The anniversary marking 34 years since falland dafa's public introduction in China in 1992.

[00:45:13]>> Fallen dafa it guide me how to be a good person to be a better person. Ever since I started practicing dhapa, I felt a sense of uh calmness you know and this calmness is not something which is external. It comes from within.

[00:45:29]>> Some passer by also joined in the meditation describing the experience afterwards.

[00:45:35]>> It was really nice like I heard all the city sirens and everything but it was like I was able to block it out and like my mind felt really like clear and powerful. an overwhelming sense of compassion and I don't know if acceptance but but it was like this feeling of love and and and kindness.

[00:45:56]It was still gives me tears.

[00:46:00]>> The event also features traditional dances and musical performances bringing together practitioners of all ages to celebrate the practice and its upcoming anniversary.

[00:46:12]But for many practitioners, this celebration is also a reminder of and a chance to speak out for those who cannot practice freely in China. The Chinese Communist Party has persecuted Falland Dafa since July 20th, 1999.

[00:46:28]Practitioners in China are persecuted and and put in in labor camps, tortured, and even organ harvested. Um, it's important for people to know because it's only when everyone is really clear about what's happening in China that there's a chance for it to stop.

[00:46:43]>> And with May 13th just days away, practitioners say they are preparing larger celebrations in New York City and across the world to celebrate World Fallandafa Day. Nikubani, NTD News, New York.

[00:46:56]And this Wednesday, a grand parade celebrating World Falland Dafa Day will bring even more color, lying dancers, dragons, and a message of hope and celebration right here in New York City.

[00:47:06]Don't miss NTD's special coverage of the annual World Fallonafa Day parade this Wednesday, May 13th, starting at 10:30 a.m. Eastern, hosted by Stefania Cox and Carrie Dunst, only on NTD. Make sure to tune in. Texas is suing Netflix amid accusations that the streaming giant spies on customers by collecting their data without consent. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton says Netflix has also designed its platform to be addictive.

[00:47:33]The lawsuit accuses Netflix of misleading consumers about its policies on sharing their data. According to the complaint, Netflix tracks user preferences, selling the information to commercial data brokers and advertising technology companies. Paxton says the result has been billions of dollars in annual revenue for the company. The Texas AG cited a statement from then Netflix CEO Reed Hastings in 2020.

[00:47:57]Hastings said at the time, quote, "We don't collect anything. We're really focused on just making our members happy and we're not tied up with all that controversy around advertising."

[00:48:12]to talk about the impact of social media on young users. Joining us now is Donna Rice Hughes, president and CEO of Enough is Enough. So, Donna, thank you for joining us uh today. Good afternoon to you. To start off, can you just explain for us what is the current research show about social media's impact on teens mental health?

[00:48:33]>> Well, there's a tremendous amount of of research um not just research, but also anecdotal uh evidence, if you will. But we know that the these big tech companies are actually programming their algorithms to hook kids much like big tobacco did with hooking people on cigarettes and nicotine. They know that their designs are addictive because they're designed to be addictive to keep anyone, including children, on their platforms longer. What does that mean exactly? Well, it means greater advertising dollars. They're putting safety over profits and we know that there is a a negative impact on the mental health of children. Not only that, uh these platforms also open up uh kids and anyone really to sexually explicit content. In fact, there was just a recent uh verdict in New Mexico where Meta was fined $375 million because what they discovered in that court case, was that Meta knew about 7.5 million um reports of child pornography or child sex abuse material, which is what we're calling it now. And they they didn't report it. They were waiting for the end toend encryption to go through.

[00:49:50]They also discovered that 500,000 kids were being targeted daily on Facebook.

[00:49:57]So, so, so we we have research, but we also have court evidence now that shows that these platforms truly are not designed for kids. We've known that for a long time and kids are actually being harmed and not only being harmed, many are dying.

[00:50:12]>> Yeah. Speaking of which, I mean these these social media challenges, I mean the when kids engage in these sometimes very dangerous activity, I mean terrible things have happened. Can you speak to us about this?

[00:50:24]>> Oh, absolutely. Um, well, Tik Tok, for instance, does have regular challenges and they're really designed to make kids think that they're just playing a game, but sometimes they're very, very dangerous. For instance, the tick- tock choking challenge. This is a big challenge about a year ago, I suppose it was now. And um they basically make, you know, little cartoons come up and everything about, you know, choking yourself, especiating, passing out. And when you do that, you get more likes, you get more friends, you can go viral, that kind of thing. And I told a story on my podcast. I interviewed uh Todd Miners um uh about the Todd Miner story.

[00:51:04]And this child actually was, I think, 12 or 13 years old. and he was doing the Tik Tok challenge and it wasn't it didn't turn out well. He act accidentally committed suicide and his dad found him and his dad came on my show to talk about it. So um when I say kids are dying, they really are dying.

[00:51:23]Um these platforms are putting safety over profits. They know that they're doing this and they don't care which is why they need to be regulated. I mean, this is one of the largest uh unregulated experiments in digital history is social media. And now we've got AI, and that's even worse. That that's just exponentially uh more dangerous. Well, I can't say more dangerous, but but it's it's going to have a lot more problems that we've even conceived of on social media.

[00:51:50]>> I mean, that's just heartbreaking. The story that you just told, uh this should not happen. I mean, we have to do everything to prevent this from ever happening again. And when it does happen, like in the past, who who takes accountability? What does accountability look like when things like this happen?

[00:52:08]>> Well, unfortunately, there hasn't been much accountability. In in the case of the the uh Todd and and Matthew Miner story, the family um I believe is suing.

[00:52:19]There have been other cases, for instance, with AI chat bots. Um, Adam Reigns committed suicide because he became so close to his AI chatbot and he started talking about his depression and suicide, interest in suicide and taking his life. And eventually the AI chatbot told him not to tell his mom, not to leave the news out, that they just keep it between the two of them. And he ended up killing himself. And so his father, his parents now have a wrongful death suit um against against the company, Chad GPT company. um basically saying that this chatbot became the suicide coach. So, as far as accountability right now, what we're seeing are these kinds of lawsuits. But what this is why we need regulation. We really need regulation. And this is such a timely story right now because there's going to be a Senate Senate hearing. I'm in DC right now on Wednesday uh to talk about the Kids Online Safety Act. And this is a really important piece of legislation that the Senate has put forth now three years in a row, bipartisan support out of judiciary. Um, we've got to get this passed. Uh, and we've, this requires these platforms to have a duty of care to put safety over profits because if they're not regulated, we know these big tech companies simply won't do that.

[00:53:36]>> Okay. Okay, Donna, what is your view on uh limiting social media to to users above or yeah, above a certain age? For example, countries like Australia are moving to ban social media use um for 15 year olds. Uh uh I could be wrong on the exact age, but what do you think what do you think the US should do? Should it do something like this?

[00:53:59]>> Well, I they have gone really I I think in a good way. Australia, they they're banning s uh pe kids under 16 years old.

[00:54:07]And I think this was a really good move and it set global precedent because now Indonesia is looking at the same thing, Greece, the UK, etc. Keep in mind, social media platforms were designed, go back, Zuckerberg, Facebook, MySpace for college age kids and older. Now they're trying to retrofit it for kids that are much younger. It's not designed for these kids and u period. and and now we know these companies are intentionally building their algorithms to to hook kids. So, I think it's a good idea, but I do believe we're a far cry um from an actual ban federally when we've had now three years to even get KOSA passed. And KOA isn't a ban, that's Kids Online Safety Act. KOSA is simply requiring these platforms to have a duty of care and to set the most restrictive uh parental controls and and privacy policies and everything else to keep these kids safe. If that passes, it's possible down the road we might see a ban, but honestly, these platforms simply aren't safe for kids. I mean, they're um they're just not. And you can retrofit it all you want to, but once kids are online, then they're they're vulnerable to the traffickers, the predators, the sextorionists, the pornographers, and the very companies that are giving them these platforms to use saying it's okay, it's safe. So, you know, um it's not it's not right now.

[00:55:35]So, we encourage parents, you know, don't let your kids on these platforms until at least, you know, they're they're in their teens and I know they're going to, you know, put up a fit, but that's okay. You know, the these these are tools that are not toys.

[00:55:49]And, um, you know, we're very concerned when you start seeing kids dying or kids becoming so depressed and and even suicidal and and having eating disorders and pornography um, issues and everything else, you just have to say, "Wait a minute. time out.

[00:56:06]>> Okay. So, Donna, you bring up an important point of what parents should do u in this conversation. Can you elaborate and explain a bit more in depth? What should parents be doing to limit their kids uh on social media?

[00:56:20]>> Well, they should be doing the same thing that they should be doing on any internet connection. So, that's the smartphone, the computer, a gaming platform, too, um and on social media.

[00:56:30]First of all, if you're going to let your child, if they're over 13, go on any of these platforms, go and look at it yourself. Get familiar with that platform and make sure you think that it really is safe and that you can cyber parent that particular platform or that particular gaming device because that's a big thing. You can't just let them out there and just assume if you put a few controls on that they're okay. Have regular conversations with them. If they're online every day, doesn't matter what what they're doing. Um, who are you talking to? you know, how are you using the media? Make sure that you know, you can't take any post back. There's, you know, there's there's no uh takebacks online and and just have those regular conversations and be the safe person because you're opening up all the good and all of the bad. But enough is enough at Internet Safety 101. We really are a one-stop shop for parents. That's internet safety 101.org. And we have looked at all the risk online and we have free resources. So, if you're concerned about social media, online gaming, pornography, trafficking, whatever concern, you can go into those areas on our website and look to see what are the warning flags, what are the red signs, what are the conversation starters that I can use. And even we've got these these guides here as well.

[00:57:44]This one's for social media where we look at the top social media platforms and we've got what safeguards they have, if any. If they've got a red dot, that means they don't. If there's a green, then that takes you to a tutorial. And these are on our sites. We have these for gaming, social media, AI chat, and smartphones, you know. So, um, your kids don't necessarily need a smartphone when they're six years old. Here's here's an interesting factoid, Don. Um, let's see.

[00:58:12]By age two, guess what percentage of kids have their own uh tablet?

[00:58:18]>> Age two.

[00:58:18]>> 40%.

[00:58:19]>> 40%.

[00:58:20]>> 40%. 40%. Okay. Here's another one for you. age isn't it age eight 25% have their own tablets I go why parents you have to understand this is you are opening up an avenue to some very dangerous people and content that's out there >> way too young >> it's way too young so we've got one of these first uh safe phones there are phones you can get your kids that are safer than a an an iPhone or an Android device and they're designed more for kids and they give you all these tools so that you can call your kids, they can call you and they can talk with their friends, but there's a lot more lockdown. So, so just keep in mind that as the parent, you know, it we we really have to parent these kids in the digital world is hard. And if you've got two kids and they're on four platforms, that means all these different platforms that you have to basically um cyber parent and and so think twice about letting them on these platforms. I would say because we're we're we're a long way away from really getting the kind of safeguards we need on the internet in in general. And now when you've got AI and AI chat bots and AI toys and everything else, just >> yeah, >> just just realize this is technology.

[00:59:37]These are multibillion dollar companies that are making billions of dollars off your kids just by advertising to them.

[00:59:45]So, so really don't get drawn into the big tech lie that this is all safe because it really isn't. But you as a parent can help make it much safer if you follow the guidelines that we we share with you on our website and you can sign up free for our newsletters.

[01:00:02]We're sending out information, >> right, >> basically every week on what's going on.

[01:00:06]>> Can you tell us again what the website is?

[01:00:09]>> Yes, it's internetsafety101.org.

[01:00:14]internets safety101.org and um there's also a hearing I think I mentioned on Wednesday on the kids online safety act. So we're just hoping that we can get this passed again out of the Senate and that the House will pass the Senate version. If that happens, President Trump will sign it and we'll be off and running to at least starting to regulate these platforms.

[01:00:35]>> Okay, internet safety 101.org.

[01:00:39]This is for our viewers. Please check out this website. And Donna, thank you for speaking with us today. Fantastic advice and insight. Pleasure speaking with you.

[01:00:47]>> Thank you, Donna. Thanks for having me.

[01:00:51]>> New York City police officers share a body cam video that shows a tense situation with a positive outcome.

[01:00:57]Officers used their training and respond quickly to rescue a woman in crisis on a building ledge in Brooklyn. NTD's Char Marshall has details.

[01:01:06]>> Word of warning, the following video can be distressing. New York City Police Department shared a body cam video of a suicidal woman on the edge of a high-rise building in Brooklyn, New York. The video displays a tense situation of an officer securing a woman's arm while simultaneously trying to talk her down off the ledge.

[01:01:24]>> We don't want you to hurt yourself.

[01:01:25]Okay? Listen, whatever you're going through, we we can we can fix it. We can try to fix it. Okay?

[01:01:31]>> All while waiting for more officers to arrive at the scene to safely secure the woman. The officer in the safety harness had already gained knowledge of the woman's life situation from her mother to help talk her into coming down.

[01:01:44]>> Hey, I'm here now. Okay, listen. I'm here now, okay? I told you I was I was going to come and help you, right?

[01:01:50]>> I told you that, right? So, listen to me. We're going to do this together, okay? We can sit here for 10 minutes. We can sit here for a half an hour. I just want to make sure. Look at me in my eyes, okay? I want to make sure that you're safe and that you're okay. Legend bridge rescues are part of their work along with barricaded subjects and high-risisk search warrants, perpetrator searches, tactical interventions, and counter assault team deployments.

[01:02:16]>> It's okay. We have you.

[01:02:18]>> We have you.

[01:02:19]>> We have you arm over here. Put your arm on the other side. Thank you.

[01:02:31]>> Sean Marshall, NTD News.

[01:02:36]The White House announces an effort to expand access to fertility benefits like IVF. President Trump says the Labor Department is creating a new rule that will make it easier for companies to offer fertility support as a standalone benefit for their workers. NTD correspondent Jason Blair has more.

[01:02:52]>> The Department of Labor is issuing a new rule to formally create a fertility benefit option for employers. President Trump announcing a new rule allowing employers to offer a supplemental fertility benefit to workers outside of their regular health insurance plans.

[01:03:08]>> This will be supplemental option available to those who need it, much like vision or dental insurance. Most health care plans do not cover these benefits. The intent of the new rule is to make fertility treatments, including but not limited to IVF, more affordable and available while making it easier for companies to offer these benefits without changing their current insurance plans.

[01:03:31]>> This will hopefully reduce the number of couples who ultimately need to resort to IVF.

[01:03:36]>> The president also formally announced the launch of moms.gov, which went live on Sunday. I encourage every mob to visit this new page where they will find helpful information about addressing clinical care, pregnancy resources, nutrition tips, Trump RX, and Trump accounts.

[01:03:54]>> HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says the website is also a response to what he calls a national fertility crisis.

[01:04:02]>> We just found out that we've dropped out of 1.57%.

[01:04:06]100 years ago, we were at 3.27. We are appro approaching the cataclysmic raids that Japan and China are now experiencing that is threatening their economy.

[01:04:17]>> The new fertility benefit and moms.gov are the latest of the Trump administration's initiatives aimed at helping families, which also include working family tax cuts, expanding rural maternal health care funding, and efforts to lower prescription drug costs. Reporting in Washington, DC, Jason Blair, AT News.

[01:04:36]Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard is probing biological laboratories abroad that have been funded by US taxpayer dollars for decades. The probe will cover more than 120 overseas labs. In a statement to the New York Post, Gabard said the probe aims to identify where these labs are with pathogens they contain and what research is being conducted. It follows President Trump's executive order on ending so-called gain of function research into the transmissibility of viruses and dangerous pathogens. The order last May focuses specifically on China, Iran, or other nations that don't exercise proper oversight. The ODNI noted that US funded foreign labs extend into more than 30 countries. Officials said clinical trials currently underway at the Bolabs are now raising significant ethical, financial, and security concerns.

[01:05:31]Over a dozen individuals exposed to the Hanta virus are now in quarantine in Nebraska. Health officials make clear the virus does not pose a risk to the public at this time. NTD's international correspondent Arian Pasar has the latest on the outbreak. The risk of hunter virus to the general public remains very very low. The Andes variant of this virus does not spread easily and it requires prolonged close contact with someone who is already symptomatic.

[01:05:59]>> Officials from the department of health and human services on Monday giving an update on a quarantine unit in Nebraska where suspected hent virus patients are stationed. The individuals arrived at the unit on Monday after disembarking from a cruise ship where the virus broke out. Passengers who were less exposed returned to their homes.

[01:06:19]>> There's been contact made with all of those passengers who who returned. The state health departments have been monitoring them on a daily basis including symptoms and temp temperature checks. Uh they have plans in place to make sure that they can isolate effectively in their home should they develop symptoms.

[01:06:34]>> According to the CDC, the virus is not new as it has been known for many decades. This is not the first time we've had Andes virus in the United States before that transmission that spread between people happens when people are symptomatic. And so I think that gives us when when they have symptoms and so that gives us um one layer of added protection to know when the risk is going to be greatest.

[01:06:56]>> According to the officials, the 15 individuals currently in quarantine are mostly more vulnerable but are still in good health. the the age range that we have in the quarantine unit ages ranges from uh late 20s to uh late 70s early 80s but all asymptomatic all very grateful to be here and we're just waiting for them to rest up and then we'll do the further assessment.

[01:07:19]>> Now you just heard one of the health officials say that the circulating strain of the virus is called the Andes strain named after the Andes mountains here in South America. A Dutch couple is believed to have gotten the virus in Argentina, but some local officials in Argentina are now saying that there is quote zero chance that the couple actually got the virus in Argentina. So, the origins of the virus are still disputed to some degree. Arian Pastar, NTD News.

[01:07:51]>> The Georgia Aquarium offers wounded and ill veterans a water experience with a difference. They can swim and enjoy an underwater tank shared with manta rays and a whale shark. Here's more.

[01:08:03]>> The Georgia Aquarium invited injured veterans from the Wounded Warrior Project to snorkel with the whale shark and manta rays as part of their military salute program.

[01:08:15]>> It gives them, you know, 30 to 40 minutes to just relax, you know, not think about their injuries, um not think about their trauma. uh just really practice mindfulness and focusing on all the beauty around them rather than you know what they what they came here with.

[01:08:32]>> Quinton Collins who became paraplegic after driving over an explosive device in Iraq was part of the group.

[01:08:40]>> Cuz I was swimming forward and the next thing I know I'm going backwards and I realized whale sharks right below me.

[01:08:45]>> Yeah.

[01:08:46]>> I was like it was like maybe half far below me. He had not been in the water since 2020. He said he struggles to find places to go that are suited to him due to his injuries.

[01:08:58]>> You know, it was really an emotional moment. So, it was awesome to see him in the water and having fun. He didn't want to come out, but you know, it's time to go home.

[01:09:06]>> The initiative takes place every Wednesday and offers a dive in the 6 milliong tank to different veterans organizations.

[01:09:16]A record 45 million Americans are expected to travel for Memorial Day weekend. AAA forecast nearly 40 million people hit the road, making road trips the most popular option again this year.

[01:09:28]Despite higher gas prices, travel demand remains strong as many Americans kick off the unofficial start of summer. More than three and a half million travelers are expected to fly with airfares down about 6% for people who booked early.

[01:09:42]The busiest traffic of the holiday weekend is expected to be Thursday and Friday afternoons, while Sunday is projected to be the lightest day on the roads. The Memorial Day holiday weekend is 5 days from Thursday through Monday.

[01:09:57]There's just a month to go before the start of the 2026 World Cup. So, fans around the world are getting excited for the start of the competition. For one man in Mexico, the tournament brings an opportunity to add to the massive World Cup souvenir collection he's been building for more than half a century.

[01:10:13]Let's take a closer look.

[01:10:18]>> For decades, these items were kept in the dark. Now, for the first time, they're being brought back into the light. Mexican collector Francisco Javier Lopez delves into his archive.

[01:10:31]His collection of more than 2,000 pieces started more than five decades ago with a single sticker album from the 1974 World Cup.

[01:10:43]>> A true collector should not just accumulate. You have to become a historian and rescue the narrative behind each piece.

[01:10:52]And the stories here span generations from penants of the 1962 World Cup in Chile to bottle caps featuring players from Mexico's first domestic World Cup in 1970 to official gear worn by sports journalists in Argentina in 1978.

[01:11:14]>> This vest is certified. Photographers had to wear it to access the field. It even has the registration number.

[01:11:22]And through it all, one thing has never changed. What does a collector need?

[01:11:30]>> You can never lose your sense of wonder.

[01:11:32]If you do, your collection becomes mere material.

[01:11:37]>> He also preserved tickets from matches played during Mexico's two previous World Cups in 1970 and 86.

[01:11:46]This was the game of the century.

[01:11:48]Germany versus Italy. They gave everything.

[01:11:53]>> Now, as Mexico prepares to co-host this year's World Cup, his collection is approaching its final chapter. What's the future of this collection?

[01:12:04]>> In life, you have to learn how to close cycles. This is a perfect one. It begins with Mexico 1970 and can end with dignity in Mexico 2026.

[01:12:17]>> His archive will be put on public display for the first time this summer in Mexico City. A lifetime of football preserved one piece at a time.