BOSTON (AP) — A federal judge on Friday struck down a Trump administration policy enacted after the shooting of two National Guard members that made it harder for immigrants from dozens of countries to stay and enter the U.S.

In a ruling harshly criticizing the administration, U.S. District Chief Judge John McConnell Jr. said the policy “threw the lives of countless immigrants living in the United States into indeterminate legal limbo,” and he accused the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services of ignoring the law.

“In enacting its latest immigration policies, USCIS: claims statutory and regulatory authority that it does not possess; makes decisions without the reasoned explanations that it must provide; acts without regard for the reliance interests of applicants that it must consider; and justifies its actions with pretextual concerns of ‘national security’ that mask anti-immigrant sentiments that it is forbidden from letting influence its decision-making,” he wrote. “In legal terms that means USCIS’s actions are contrary to law and arbitrary and capricious.”

A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The policies enacted after the National Guard shooting last year meant that immigrants from 39 African, Asian, Latin American, and Middle Eastern countries have been “categorically barred” from receiving final decisions on, among other things, their asylum, work permit, green card, and citizenship applications.

“This ruling reaffirms a basic principle: the federal government cannot shut down lawful immigration pathways or discriminate against people based on where they come from,” said Skye Perryman, president and CEO of Democracy Forward, which represented the plaintiffs in the case. “These unlawful policies caused enormous harm to families, workers, asylum-seekers, and communities across the country who were left in limbo, unable to work, access protections, or move forward with their lives.”

The policies apply to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services or USCIS, which approves applications for immigrants to work and become citizens. The agency, which is within the Homeland Security Department, often grants asylum, but only for those already in the United States when they apply. Immigration judges grant asylum to those stopped at the border; the ruling does not affect them, nor do the policies that sparked the lawsuit.

It is part of an ongoing effort by the administration to tighten U.S. entry standards for travel and immigration, which critics say unfairly prevent travel for people from a broad range of countries. The administration suggested it would expand the restrictions after the arrest of an Afghan national suspect in the shooting of two National Guard troops over Thanksgiving weekend.

In its motion to dismiss, which the court denied, the government argued that Congress gave the executive branch broad authority over immigration policy, including “the entry of aliens into the United States as well as discretion within the statutory scheme to confer as well as withdraw various discretionary benefits.”

“This case rests on a remarkable premise: that a federal court should prevent an agency from issuing the very policy guidance that provides government personnel with the guardrails necessary to ensure consistent, non-arbitrary, and individualized decisionmaking consistent with federal law,” the government wrote in its brief.

Immigration groups celebrated the ruling.

“This ruling sets a powerful precedent that the administration cannot ignore the law as laid down by Congress and cannot arbitrarily bar immigration benefits on the basis of national origin by fiat,” Jamal Abdi, president at the National Iranian American Council, said. “Fortunately, this is still a nation of laws, and those who uphold America’s values have recourse to challenge and push back on such discriminatory, arbitrary policies.”

Shawn VanDiver, a Navy veteran who heads a coalition that supports Afghan resettlement efforts called #AfghanEvac, said the ruling was a “significant victory for the rule of law and for thousands of Afghan allies and other immigrants who followed every requirement asked of them.”

“Just this week in Dallas and Fort Worth, we met people who feared losing jobs because delayed work permit renewals threatened their livelihoods, families who postponed education, travel, and homeownership because they did not know when their cases would be resolved, and future Americans who had expected to become citizens only to see their applications stall without explanation,” VanDiver said.

The petition was launched by businessman Phil Hall, who runs the Black Swan Inn on Birdgate, in Pickering, with wife Jill.

Mr Hall says the problems which started in October last year have “finished” their business.

Water started leaking into their basement after road repairs.

Workers from North Yorkshire Council came to investigate and put up a roadworks barriers outside the pub.

Eight months later, the barriers are still in place.

Mr Hill told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “We had to stop doing food because we had water from an unknown source coming into the building, and that’s contravening the food hygiene regulations.

“Consequently, we couldn’t pay staff and we had to let staff go in the winter.

“We’re also in a position where because of the barriers around the front of the building, people think that we’re closed.

He added: “We started two weeks ago trying to do food again, but the footfall is dire. North Yorkshire Council don’t seem to understand is that with this type of business, you can’t just turn it on and off — the reputation is your business.

“It’s finished our business, it really has.”

More than 850 people have signed the petition calling on the council to fix the repair.

The petition will be debated by members of North Yorkshire Council’s Thirsk and Malton area committee on Friday next week.

Mr Hall said: “We started a petition to try and encourage North Yorkshire Council to do something about the problem outside because it’s affecting the whole town.

“We also want the council to communicate with  the businesses and the residents of the town to let them know what’s happening in some.

“We’re now getting into the big trading season and everybody’s concerned that the visitors to the town are going to be put off by the fact that we’ve got roadworks out there.”

A council report prepared ahead of the meeting states that the authority is about to install an in-kerb drainage system to collect any surface water outside the pub.

The report adds: “We are also looking to obtain listed building consent to work on a listed structure to put physical measures in place to install a water barrier below the footway level.

“This has necessitated obtaining the services of specialist engineers and engineering firms, which has added time to the development of the various

solutions proposed.

“Due to the length of time this is taking the benefits of reinstating the footway until a fully agreed and consented proposal is in place are being assessed. This will allow the traffic signals to be removed.”

The report states that the council submitted a proposal to deal with the water ingress with works inside the cellar, but this was rejected by the owners in early March 2026.

“It was thought that this would have enabled the public house to start operating normally again,” it adds.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A man was charged with murder Friday in the stabbing of “Jumanji” and “Top Gun: Maverick” actor James Handy, who was in a relationship with the suspect’s mother.

Michael Gledhill, 44, was charged after police say officers found the 81-year-old Handy stabbed in the chest and lying unconscious outside a home in Los Angeles on Wednesday. Handy was taken to the hospital and later pronounced dead.

Gledhill did not appear at an arraignment Friday afternoon in Los Angeles Superior Court and no plea was entered for him. Javier Trincado, Gledhill’s lawyer, said his client is “unable to assist” in his defense and told the judge that the sheriff’s department did not bring Gledhill to the courtroom, but did not provide a reason.

Superior Court Judge John H. Reid ordered that Gledhill be sent to mental health court and undergo psychological evaluations. Another judge will decide whether he is competent for trial.

Authorities say Gledhill was arrested after telling police he was the person they were looking for. Police had responded to the home after a 911 caller stated: “I am the son of man, I just killed the man of sin,” according to the department.

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said Handy deserved to enjoy his later years with his loved ones and that the person who took his life should be held accountable.

“This is not how anyone’s life should end, stabbed in the chest and left dying in the front yard of a home,” he said in a statement.

Handy was a character actor in films and on TV for decades, including appearances in a variety of television crime procedurals.

Actor Brian Delate knew Handy for more than four decades after meeting him at a Vietnam veterans theater company in New York. Delate described him as someone with a great sense of humor who was always curious.

Delate told The Associated Press that a few times over the past couple of years, Handy mentioned in passing that his girlfriend’s son had mental health problems.

“I didn’t think much of it, because he just kind of mentioned it casually,” he said.

Handy’s girlfriend had fixed up the garage so her son could live there, Delate said. Handy had his own home.

Bail was set at $2 million for Gledhill, according to authorities. If convicted, Gledhill faces up to 26 years to life in prison, according to the district attorney’s office.

Emails sent to Trincado and officials from the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office were not immediately answered.

Born in New York, Handy appeared in films and TV shows for decades.

He was known for his role as an exterminator in the 1995 film “Jumanji” and more recently as the bartender Jimmy in the 2022 film “Top Gun: Maverick,” according to IMDB. He’s also appeared in some of the top TV crime dramas, including “NCIS: Los Angeles,” “The Closer” and “Cold Case.”

“I could not have asked for a more talented, humble or gracious client and friend than James Handy,” Pam Ellis-Evenas, from the Ellis Talent Group, said in an email to The Associated Press.

Jeff Hawks, who said he’s been friends with Handy for about 10 years after they met at an audition, described him as a hilarious man who had a habit of belting out doo-wop songs when they’d go out to bars.

“I can’t imagine who would ever have a beef with him,” he said. “To me, it’s impossible. He was just really a decent guy.”

With Vietnam in mind, Delate lamented how his friend died.

“If he’d just passed away from an illness or something like that, this would be a very different experience,” he said. “But because of the nature of how he died and the fact that we lived in an arena of killing back in the ‘60s, it has a different resonance.”

—-

Associated Press journalist Philip Marcelo contributed from New York City.

The stunning beach in County Donegal has attracted global attention after the biggest pop star on the planet posted pictures from there

A stunning Irish beach situated in County Donegal was once crowned the second-most beautiful in the entire world.

Ballymastocker Bay in Portsalon sits 40 miles, or one hour’s drive, from the border town of Derry — and it’s so breathtakingly photogenic that it has captured the heart of one of the biggest music stars on the planet.

The beach was previously named amongst the finest in Ireland by Lonely Planet, but the Observer Magazine went even further, voting it the second most beautiful beach in the world.

The golden sandy stretch lines the western shore of Lough Swilly, extending an impressive 2km from the charming village of Portsalon. It holds a prestigious Blue Flag award and boasts spectacular views across the Inishowen Peninsula.

Perhaps its most high-profile admirer is none other than Taylor Swift, who shared a series of black and white photographs taken at the beach a year after the release of her Folklore album.

Sharp-eyed fans from Ireland and Northern Ireland were quick to identify the location as Ballymastocker Bay (also known as Portsalon Beach), recognising the iconic footbridge visible in the background. A charming little pub by the pier also offers the perfect spot to enjoy a pint while soaking up the magnificent surroundings.

During the summer of 2021, Taylor wrote in her caption about the “tall, tall trees and salt air” and spoke about a place “where you’re allowed to wear lace nightgowns that make you look like a Victorian ghost every day and no one will side eye you cause no one is around”.

Predictably, legions of Swifties now descend upon the beach, which is framed by stunning verdant hills and countryside, to capture some of the magic and allure the pop sensation enjoyed personally.

Ballymastocker Bay lies within a Natural Habitat Area and features dazzling turquoise waters that stretch towards the Atlantic Ocean.

Its particular appeal stems from its position on the Wild Atlantic Way, making it a frequent stopping point for those travelling one of the nation’s most spectacular driving routes.

Numerous visitors also venture to Portsalon where pubs, cafés, restaurants and shops offer a delightful day out.

It’s also merely a 20-minute drive from one of Ireland’s most renowned lighthouses – the Fanad Head Lighthouse.

Guided tours are available there and it sits on the tip of the Fanad Peninsula.

However, for those simply wishing to appreciate the beach, they can do so undisturbed, as it extends for over a mile, ensuring they’re seldom caught in large crowds.

For the ideal Instagram photograph, visitors are advised to make use of the viewing point on Knockalla mountain.

One visitor wrote on Tripadvisor: “Portsalon Beach completely stole my heart with its sweeping golden sands, turquoise waters & peaceful atmosphere. It’s one of those places that feels almost untouched, perfect for a quiet walk or simply sitting & soaking in the views.”

Another said: “Best beach in Ireland. Easy to park and walk down to. So clean and safe.” Another visitor enthused: “Stunning location, great for kids, beautiful. Safe and clean. Must visit in this area. One of the best in Ireland.”

The lights had barely dimmed after meal service on a 14-hour flight from Santiago to Paris, when a piercing scream shattered the plane cabin’s silence.

A young woman in the row beside me suddenly leapt from her seat, visibly shaken, before rushing towards the galley. Moments later, cabin crew began quietly questioning nearby passengers.

I wasn’t entirely sure what had happened. One flight attendant later told me that a male passenger, believed to be in his late teens or early twenties, had allegedly assaulted the woman while she was sleeping.

Another passenger claimed she had heard he had attempted to kiss her and force her head into his lap.

The accused was moved to an isolated crew seat near the galley, while the woman was relocated elsewhere in the plane.

Cabin crew advised her that she could report the incident upon arrival in Paris, but the shaken young woman expressed concern about missing a connecting flight if she became involved in a police investigation.

After landing, passengers were informed that police would be meeting the aircraft and that passports would need to be shown before anyone disembarked.

What happened next remains unknown.

The incident, however, prompted a troubling question: just how common are sexual assaults on aircraft?

A growing concern

While such occurences remain relatively rare compared with the billions of people who fly every year, evidence suggests reports of misconduct in the skies are increasing.

The FBI has investigated more than 170 cases involving passenger-on-passenger physical and sexual assaults in recent years, while the Federal Aviation Administration continues to record thousands of reports of disruptive behaviour annually. 

Globally, the International Air Transport Association says there is now approximately one unruly passenger incident for every 395 flights.

Experts believe the confined nature of air travel creates unique vulnerabilities. Passengers are often sleeping, fatigued, consuming alcohol and unable to easily remove themselves from uncomfortable situations.

One particularly high-profile case involved a British woman known publicly only as Kelly, who was sexually assaulted aboard a Qatar Airways flight from Doha to London Gatwick in 2023. 

The 24-year-old awoke to find the man seated beside her with his hands down her trousers. The passenger, 66-year-old Momade Jussab, was arrested upon landing and later sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison after being convicted of sexual assault by penetration and two counts of sexual assault.

The case attracted further attention when Kelly was denied compensation under the UK’s Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme because the assault took place on a foreign-registered aircraft, highlighting what campaigners have described as a significant gap in the law.

Meanwhile, earlier this year, Italian national Nicola Cristiano, 45, was convicted of attempted rape after targeting a woman travelling alone on an EasyJet flight from Naples to Edinburgh. Prosecutors said he deliberately moved seats to sit beside her before sexually assaulting her during the flight.

The victim managed to alert cabin crew and Cristiano was arrested when the plane landed in Scotland. He was later convicted at the High Court in Edinburgh, in a case that again highlighted the vulnerabilities faced by passengers in the confined environment of an aircraft cabin.

My own experience

Over more than two decades of extensive travel, only one other alarming incident stands out in my memory – and it happened to me. I was travelling from the UK to Nepal when I woke to find the male passenger seated beside me touching my leg.

I remember feeling instantly repulsed. The man, who appeared to be in his 60s, had somehow placed his hand on my upper thigh. As soon as I stirred awake, he quickly withdrew it and acted as though nothing had happened.

Yet his uneasy, shifty demeanour left me in little doubt that he knew his behaviour was inappropriate. Horrified, I immediately alerted a member of the cabin crew, who quickly moved me to another seat.

The incident never escalated further, but it left a lasting impression of just how vulnerable passengers can feel in the confined environment of an aircraft cabin.

When I later asked female friends about their own experiences, several described uncomfortable attention from male passengers, ranging from persistent staring and unwanted conversation, to repeated offers of drinks. In some cases, they said the inappropriate behaviour even came from airline staff.

One friend recalled being repeatedly given booze by two male crew members while travelling in her twenties. Looking back, she now feels uncomfortable about behaviour she brushed off at the time, and realises how inappropriate and unprofessional it was.

Why might incidents be increasing?

Craig Bickers, founder and director of medical repatriation company SkyCare Repatriation, tells Metro that he believes several factors may be contributing to the apparent rise in incidents. ‘With more people travelling than ever before and increased awareness around reporting inappropriate behaviour, it’s possible more incidents are now being recognised and reported rather than ignored,’ he explains.

Craig adds that the immediate priority for anyone experiencing inappropriate behaviour onboard should be personal safety. ‘If possible, they should discreetly alert cabin crew and request to be moved away from the individual involved,’ he says. ‘Airlines have safeguarding and incident procedures, and authorities may be notified ahead of arrival depending on the circumstances.’

He also stresses that victims should never feel pressured into making an immediate report. ‘Once a formal report begins, many decisions can quickly move out of the victim’s control. It’s important that individuals feel informed, supported and able to make choices at their own pace wherever possible.’

The reality of trauma

Sam Thompson, a safeguarding specialist and Sexual Safety Lead for the Royal College of Paramedics, says public perceptions often fail to reflect how victims respond in traumatic situations.

‘One of the biggest misconceptions is that victims will always respond clearly and decisively in the moment,’ he tells Metro. ‘In reality, people often freeze, minimise what has happened, second-guess themselves, or focus primarily on getting safely to their destination.’

According to Sam, aircrafts create particularly challenging environments because of restricted movement and the social pressure not to cause a scene.

For many victims, the fear extends beyond the incident itself. ‘People may worry about being disbelieved, blamed, publicly exposed, delayed in a foreign country, separated from travelling companions, or losing autonomy over decisions that directly affect them,’ he adds.

‘There is often an assumption that reporting automatically feels empowering. In practice, many people experience the opposite initially – a rapid loss of privacy, predictability and control.’

After my own uncomfortable experience in my twenties, I have become more conscious of who I am seated next to on flights. 

These days, I make sure the armrest remains a clear boundary between my personal space and that of the passenger beside me.

While such precautions may seem small, they reflect a reality many travellers – particularly women – know all too well: personal safety can never be taken entirely for granted.

An invisible crime

For most passengers, flying remains one of the safest forms of travel. Yet incidents like the one I witnessed somewhere over the Atlantic serve as a reminder that crime does not stop at the aircraft door.

The young woman on that overnight flight faced a difficult decision familiar to many victims: whether to report what happened and potentially become entangled in an unfamiliar legal process, or continue her journey and leave the incident behind.

Whatever choice she made, experts agree on one thing – the priority must remain the victim’s safety, wellbeing and ability to make informed decisions about what happens next.

As passenger numbers continue to rise, airlines and authorities face a growing challenge – ensuring that the skies remain not only safe, but safe for everyone.

MORE: Michael Schumacher’s nurse ‘woke up in blood after rape’ at F1 star’s mansion

MORE: It’s 2026, and your dad’s mate can still have sex with you the minute you turn 16

MORE: How a muddy footprint bungled Rachel Nickell’s murder investigation – and led to two more killings

The six-part series, written by Sophie Goodhart and co-starring Jemaine Clement, begins with a friendship-shattering premise. Alice (Walker) discovers her best friend Steve (Clement) is dating her 26-year-old daughter, Izzy. What follows is part comedy and part emotional warfare as two middle-aged friends spiral into a battle of resentment, jealousy and revenge.

Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler both struggled at the Memorial Tournament on Friday

JT Poston navigated challenging, blustery conditions to seize a one-shot advantage at the Memorial Tournament, while the world’s leading duo of Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler endured difficult outings.

McIlroy found himself at odds with the slick greens, carding a 74 that featured three bogeys and a double-bogey after requiring five strokes to complete the par-four 13th from just 112 yards.

The Holywood man now faces an uphill battle to mount a comeback, sitting 10 strokes adrift of Poston—the same deficit facing Scheffler, who confessed he “could have shot 90” following his level-par 72.

Poston’s impressive seven-under 65 at Muirfield Village in Ohio stood four strokes clear of any other competitor in the field.

First-round co-leader Tommy Fleetwood slipped down the leaderboard with a 73, falling to fourth place, five shots behind the leader.

“It was pretty brutal, actually. I still think I got a good score out of that today. I made a bogey on one and six, where I didn’t really feel like I had done anything wrong whatsoever,” he said.

Scheffler’s pursuit of a third consecutive title remains within reach after salvaging three birdies across his final six holes, having previously suffered three consecutive bogeys from the eighth and managing to escape with par despite shanking from a bunker at the fifth.

“Overall it was a tough day, I felt I could have shot 90. I may be a lot of things but I’m not a quitter,” he said. “That’s maybe some of the worst I’ve hit it in a couple years out there and I still managed to shoot even par around a golf course that requires you to strike the ball really well.”

US PGA champion Aaron Rai and fellow Englishman Alex Fitzpatrick find themselves tied for ninth place on one under par, carding rounds of 70 and 71 respectively, joined by Ireland’s Shane Lowry, whose round of 73 featured five birdies but was undermined by a pair of double bogeys and two further bogeys.

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Security will be a lot more stricter than the Tartan Army is used to but it won’t stop the party, says Record View.

There’s a week to go until Scotland kick off a World Cup campaign for the first time in 28 years.

Older readers might remember a time when Scotland qualified for every World Cup as a matter of routine.

But for younger Record readers, they might have thought they would never see this day coming.

As kick-off approaches next weekend some are preparing to watch the opening Scotland match in the pub or at home with friends and family.

Thousands are also heading off on the long trip across the Atlantic Ocean to soak up the atmosphere in Boston and Miami.

As we report today, celebrities like Susan Boyle are set to join the Tartan Army to watch history unfold as we try to reach the knockout stages for the first time.

But amid all the glorious anticipation, we also report today how the Tartan Army will have to be on their usual best behaviour in the US.

Under Donald Trump’s leadership, the country takes a much stricter view on incomers – with ICE agents in operation around the country throwing out illegal immigrants.

We report today on a warning from top US immigration adviser Tiffany Derentz that the Scots will not get any ­preferential treatment. Any rowdy ­behaviour that results in arrest could see Scots deported straight home.

There are also warnings that security for our final match in Miami against Brazil will be a lot stricter than many fans are used to.

But that doesn’t mean that our Tartan Army footsoldiers have to turn down the volume or tone down the party.

All over the world our supporters have been taken into the hearts of locals – and we’re sure America will be no different.

Give us answers

The growing scandal at the Jura ward at Glasgow’s Stobhill Hospital is escalating fast.

Families at the unit claim that their elderly loved ones were left “like zombies” after being doped up with unprescribed drugs.

Now lawyers are preparing a legal case as families attempt to get to the truth of what happened.

It’s a horrible thought that our parents or grandparents would be treated ­inhumanely at a place where they are vulnerable and in need of care.

The families who have spoken to the Daily Record highlighting their concerns are distraught at what they have witnessed.

So we hope that hospital bosses will be honest and transparent about what happened at the Jura ward.

The families involved deserve nothing less.

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De Boisse says they are merely reviving an old French tradition of dining en masse with good local fare that goes back into the depths of medieval history. After the French Revolution, which led to the abolition of the monarchy, there were banquets républicains – marking the arrival of the new system – and, until recently, every village used to have its annual banquet populaire – a kind of people’s feast.

Just after midnight, in the early hours of this morning, North Yorkshire Police officers spotted a silver Peugeot 207 car being driven erratically, at high speed, and swerving between lanes, on the A64 eastbound.

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police said: “The vehicle failed to stop, and was driven on towards Scarborough, with police in pursuit.

“After about ten minutes, it clipped a kerb and came to a halt at Musham Bank.

“The driver, a man in his 20s, was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving, failing to stop, drink driving, and possession of class C drugs. He remains in custody at this time.”