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In the news today: The man who opened fire in a classroom at Old Dominion University had previously been convicted of aiding the Islamic State group; how ships near the Strait of Hormuz are trying to avoid being targeted by Iran; and what Trump's new tariff plans could cost American households, according to congressional Democrats. Also, a gay Muslim influencer's recipe for an inclusive Ramadan celebration. |
Police arrive outside Old Dominion University's campus after reports of an active shooter on Thursday in Norfolk, Va. (Kendall Warner/The Virginian-Pilot via AP) |
Old Dominion shooter convicted of Islamic State ties released from prison just 2 years before attack |
Court documents show less than two years after Mohamed Bailor Jalloh was released from prison for attempting to aid the Islamic State, he opened fire in a classroom at Virginia's Old Dominion University on Thursday before Reserve Officers Training Corps students subdued and killed him. Read more. |
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- The shooting that left one person dead and another two injured prompted some elected officials to question how someone with known ties to the Islamic State was able to carry out such an attack.
The Virginia Army National Guard confirmed he served as a specialist from 2009 until 2015, when he was honorably discharged. After Jalloh pleaded guilty in October 2016 to providing material support to the Islamic State group, a federal judge sentenced him in 2017 to an 11-year prison term with credit for time served retroactive to his July 2016 arrest.
- Jalloh was released from federal custody on Dec. 23, 2024. It wasn't immediately clear why his release from prison was moved up. Jalloh was on supervised release, which is comparable to probation, when he carried out the attack. Based on his release date, that would've run into 2029.
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Ships identify themselves as Chinese around Strait of Hormuz during Iran war to avoid attacks |
Some commercial ships near or in the Strait of Hormuz and Persian Gulf have declared themselves as China-linked since the Iran war began, marine traffic data show, as their operators apparently try to reduce risks of being targeted in attacks. Read more. |
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At least 19 commercial ships around the region had been damaged in the war as of Thursday. Iran and affiliated groups have generally avoided targeting ships linked to China, said Ana Subasic, a trade risk analyst at data and analytics firm Kpler, given China's relatively neutral stance and stronger economic ties with Iran.
At least eight vessels in or near the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman changed their declared destination signals to short messages such as "CHINA OWNER" or "CHINA OWNER&CREW," according to data on the ship tracking platform MarineTraffic analyzed by the AP.
- Destination signals typically show the ship's intended next port and are usually intended to help with navigation safety, traffic awareness and port planning.
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Congressional Democrats say Trump tariffs will cost US households more than $2,500 this year |
President Donald Trump is scrambling to replace the revenue the federal government lost when the Supreme Court struck down his biggest and boldest tariffs last month. A report from Democrats on the Joint Economic Committee, out Friday, finds that the new tariffs will increase the burden on American households this year. Read more. |
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If the administration's tariff efforts succeed, congressional Democrats warn in the study, the administration's import taxes will cost American households an average of $2,512 in 2026, up 44% from $1,745 in tariff costs last year.
That is partly because the tariff revenue would be collected for the full year; Trump needed time to impose tariffs in 2025 and occasionally suspended them. The Democrats also assume that American households will absorb 100% of the tariff cost. They cite a Congressional Budget Office report concluding that importers can pass along 70% of the tariff costs to consumers and also allow domestic producers to raise prices.
- Calling the study "phony," White House spokesman Kush Desai said "President Trump will continue using tariffs to renegotiate broken trade deals, lower drug prices, and secure trillions in investments for the American people."
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Ali Darwich, center left, hosts an inclusive Iftar with friends on Wednesday, in Berlin, Germany. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi) |
Gay Muslim influencer hosts inclusive Ramadan meal and calls for acceptance across faiths
Ali Darwich, a gay Muslim influencer in Berlin, has hosted an inclusive celebration during Ramadan. At a time of rising attacks against LGBTQ+ people and gay-friendly establishments across Germany, he is calling on people to open their hearts and doors to queer Muslims so they don't have to be alone for Iftar, the evening meal to break fast. |
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