WASHINGTON (AP) — Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen arrived in El Salvador Wednesday to push for the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a man who was sent there by the Trump administration in March despite an immigration court order preventing his deportation.
Van Hollen, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said in a video posted to X before he boarded his flight that he hopes to meet with Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran citizen who was living in Maryland. He said he also hopes to meet with high-level officials to press for his return to the United States.
“The goal of this mission is to let the Trump administration, to let the government of El Salvador know that we are going to keep fighting to bring Abrego Garcia home until he returns to his family,” Van Hollen said.
After arriving in San Salvador, Van Hollen posted another video from the back of a moving car, saying he was traveling into the city and planned to meet with officials at the U.S. embassy. He said he would “have a better idea” later in the day whether he can meet with Abrego Garcia, who is detained at the notorious CECOT prison.
The Trump administration and Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele said this week that they have no basis to send him back, even as even as the U.S. Supreme Court has called on the administration to facilitate his return. Trump officials have said that Abrego Garcia has ties to the MS-13 gang, but his attorneys note the government has provided no evidence of that.
Democrats have seized on the case to highlight what they say is President Donald Trump’s disrespect for the courts and overcome their position in the minority in both the House and Senate. New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., was also considering a trip to El Salvador, as were some House Democrats.
“I told his wife and his family that I would do everything possible to bring him home, and we’re going to keep working at this until we’re successful,” Van Hollen said in his video.
Trump officials slammed the Democratic senator’s trip and renewed their claims that he was a gang member.
Tom Homan, Trump’s border czar, said on Fox News that he is “disgusted that any congressional representative is going to run to El Salvador.”
“We got rid of a dangerous person, an El Salvadoran national was returned to the country of El Salvador, so he is home,” Homan said.
The fight over Abrego Garcia has also played out in contentious court filings, with repeated refusals from the government to tell a judge what it plans to do, if anything, to repatriate him.
Since March, El Salvador has accepted from the U.S. more than 200 Venezuelan immigrants — whom Trump administration officials have accused of gang activity and violent crimes — and placed them inside the country’s maximum-security gang prison just outside of San Salvador. That prison is part of Bukele’s broader effort to crack down on the country’s powerful street gangs, which has put 84,000 people behind bars and made Bukele extremely popular at home.
Human rights groups have previously accused Bukele’s government of subjecting those jailed to “systematic use of torture and other mistreatment.” Officials there deny wrongdoing.
Associated Press writer Seung Min Kim contributed to this report.
Thousands of Catholics across the country will unite in prayer for pregnant and parenting moms in need during an April 19-27 novena inspired by St. Gianna Beretta Molla, an Italian doctor, wife and mother who sacrificed her own life for the life of her child.
The novena is sponsored by Walking With Moms in Need, an initiative of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington.
St. Gianna “is a powerful patron for pregnant and parenting mothers,” says the text for the first day of the novena posted on the Walking With Moms in Need website, www.walkingwithmoms.com/saint-gianna-novena.
“As a physician, wife, and mother, she knew intimately what it was like to struggle with a challenging medical diagnosis during pregnancy,” the text continues. “We ask St. Gianna’s prayers for all women who are pregnant during this time, especially those who are particularly vulnerable, that they be supported and strengthened by God and their loved ones.”
While pregnant with her fourth child in 1961, St. Gianna learned she had a tumor in her uterus. Doctors discussed having an abortion to preserve St. Gianna’s life. Instead, she chose to only have the tumor removed, understanding this could save her child but lead to further, perhaps deadly, complications for her.
Both the baby and St. Gianna survived the surgery. Knowing she could lose her life delivering her child, St. Gianna prayed to God and told the doctors and her family: “If you must decide between me and the child, do not hesitate, choose the child. I insist on it. Save the baby.”
On April 21, 1962, Gianna Emanuela Molla was born. Over the next few days, her mother experienced serious complications and despite several treatments, died a week after giving birth.
As word spread of St. Gianna’s action, the Catholic Church opened her cause for sainthood. She was beatified by St. John Paul II in 1994 and canonized in 2004.
The first day of the novena is a prayer offered “for all women facing difficult or challenging pregnancies.” Prayers on subsequent days are offered for: all health care workers; healthy supportive marriages; family life; service organizations; faithful to be inspired by service; families facing a difficult or challenging diagnosis; the sick; and all mothers.
The full text of the novena can be found in English and Spanish on the Walking With Moms in Need site, which has a link for participants to sign up to receive daily emails with the novena intention, prayers and a brief reflection. It also has a link to a Vatican biography of the saint.
Kano State Police Command has dismantled a criminal network that specialized in smuggling of firearms into the state and recovered 19 fabricated revolver rifles with 114 live cartridges as well as six expended cartridges.
The State Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, disclosed this during a press briefing at the Bompai police headquarters on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
“Following a credible information received from a community member on 10/04/2025 at about 3:45 pm, a team of Police Operative arrested one Ahmad Mu’azu, ‘m’, 22 years old and Abdul M. Sadiq, ‘m’ 42 years old, all of Kuntau Quarters, Kano in possession of two (2) fabricated revolver rifles,” the CP stated.
“During the investigation, the suspects led investigators to the arrest of one Arma-Ya’u Lawal, Alias Agwada, ‘m’ 37 years old of Gwale LGA, Kano and the supplier of the rifles one Aliyu Sharif, ‘m’, 40 years old of Kano Municipal, who revealed that he is supplying the rifles from Plateau State.
“Further investigation led to the recovery of additional eighteen (18) rifles, totaling twenty (20) with one hundred and fourteen (114) live cartridges and six (6) expanded cartridges.
The Nigeria Police Force has imposed stringent administrative bail conditions on David Nwokorie, who was arrested and detained following a breakup with Genevieve Opara, daughter of retired Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Hilary Opara.
Genevieve, a Deputy Manager at the National Pension Commission, is married to Seal Nwaka, an official with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).
SaharaReporters had earlier reported that David’s arrest was based on complaints filed by Genevieve, accusing him of cyberstalking and blackmail.
Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore intervened in the matter, prompting police authorities to indicate that Nwokorie’s lawyer could facilitate his bail.
“I got involved and asked the CP (Commissioner of Police) of NCC (National Cybercrime Center) to release him. He said we could send his lawyer. But when the lawyer arrived, they were met with ludicrous bail conditions. Officer Omaka insisted that nothing would change them,” Sowore said.
A document seen by SaharaReporters shows that the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) demanded two sureties for Nwokorie’s bail. The sureties must either be Federal Government employees not below Grade Level 17, or businessmen with landed properties in Abuja covered by a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O). Alternatively, the sureties could be businessmen with registered companies and landed properties within the FCT valued at no less than ₦500 million.
If the sureties presented are federal government employees, they must provide letters of introduction from their respective organisations, valid identification cards, and other supporting documents.
Alternatively, if the sureties are businessmen, they must submit copies of their Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) registration certificates, Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) for their landed properties in Abuja, and present the original documents for verification.
In both cases, the sureties are required to bring their passports and two recent passport photographs.
Sources told SaharaReporters that Genevieve and her family were upset over some messages allegedly sent by Nwokorie after their breakup.
In the messages, Nwokorie reportedly accused Genevieve of struggling with mental health issues and being emotionally unhealed from a previous relationship with a man based abroad, before entering into another relationship with someone she did not love.
He also allegedly described her as “unteachable” and “hot-headed,” and claimed she would still be jobless if not for her father’s influence in securing her role at the National Pension Commission (PenCom).
Background
Family sources told SaharaReporters on Tuesday that David was arrested last week by operatives of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) and had been held in custody since then.
According to David’s legal counsel, Barrister Ezike Chibuzor, who is also representing him in the ongoing case, the situation stems from a failed relationship between David and Genevieve.
Chibuzor explained that David only discovered Genevieve had previously been married and had two children after their relationship had progressed significantly.
“Genevieve never disclosed her past marriage and children to David. When he found out, he ended the relationship,” Chibuzor said.
The lawyer further alleged that tensions escalated in January when Genevieve found out that David had proposed to another woman. In response, she reportedly stormed his home and damaged several household items.
“David forgave her initially, but the problems continued. Eventually, he decided to end both the relationship and their joint NGO project, which they had started less than a year ago,” the lawyer added.
David, through his lawyer, reportedly demanded N25 million in compensation from Genevieve for the damages caused to his property.
He also posted a flyer online with Genevieve’s picture, describing her as “wanted for damages done to his home.”
Genevieve, in reaction to the post, filed a petition with the police, alleging cyberbullying and extortion. This led to David’s arrest.
“She was not happy about the post and reported him to the police. That’s how this issue started,” said the lawyer.
Meanwhile, David’s family alleges that Genevieve’s father, retired DIG Hilary Okpara, used his influence to get David arrested and detained.
“When we checked his [Hilary Okpara’s] profile, we saw that he was once a Commissioner of Police and later retired as an Assistant Inspector General (AIG). We believe he’s using his influence to keep David behind bars,” a family member told SaharaReporters.
There are also reports that David contacted Genevieve’s estranged husband, allegedly sending him photos of himself with Genevieve and her children.
He has reportedly expressed a willingness to testify in the ongoing custody battle between the couple.
SaharaReporters gathered that Genevieve is currently in court with her husband over a pending divorce case.
“Genevieve and her husband are currently in court over custody of their children. David is promising to serve as a witness against her,” Chibuzor confirmed.
When SaharaReporters contacted Genevieve Opara for comment, she said David is currently detained for blackmail, cyberbullying, and making threats to life.
“I think you should speak to my lawyer because you won’t be able to get all the necessary information from me. The matter has already progressed significantly. Please speak to my lawyer — it’s already in court,” she said.
“Maybe I’ll share my lawyer’s number with you so you can call her. Let her tell you what she can disclose. But the police cannot just arrest people arbitrarily.”
“They must have had some information. He is — well, he is currently detained for blackmail, cyberbullying, and making threats to life. The police have a clear picture and a full story,” she added.
When SaharaReporters contacted Genevieve’s lawyer, she said: “I cannot divulge any further information. As of today, the matter is sub judice. That means it is already before the court, okay? And I cannot speak on it.
“You are acting on speculations, and I am telling you that the matter is now sub judice. As of today, it has already been filed in court and is now before a competent court of jurisdiction.”
“So, we can’t speak further on this matter,” she added.
These days, most smartphones rely on software smarts to make your photos look nice and tidy. But Xiaomi‘s Ultra series challenges this norm year-over-year by bringing the best camera hardware that fits inside a smartphone chassis. That’s what I felt when I held the Xiaomi 15 Ultra in my hands. But does this €1,499 uber flagship device have what it takes to replace your point and shoot camera? That’s what we’re going to talk about in this review of the Xiaomi 15 Ultra.
Xiaomi 15 Ultra: Key Specifications
Before we move on to the review itself, let’s take a moment to check the full specifications of the Xiaomi 15 Ultra.
I am not a professional photographer, and my experience with cameras comes only from reviewing smartphones over the years. So, I felt a bit overwhelmed when working with this smartphone’s photography chops.
This premium flagship houses a 50MP main camera, with a large 1.0-inch sensor. This comes alongside a 200MP telephoto camera and two other 50MP lenses. This setup is complemented by a variety of Leica features, like the Authentic and Vibrant presets. And, you can create your own Pro presets for different photography styles. There’s even a Leica portrait style option.
Even change the shutter sound to a mechanical Leica camera shutter. Or, replace the button with a photo of your choice. Xiaomi and Leica’s level of attention in the camera app itself goes quite deep. Something I am sure camera nerds will have a field day with, but let’s talk about photos.
500 Shots with Xiaomi 15 Ultra: A Photographic Journey
To truly appreciate the engineering marvel of this phone, I took it to capture the engineering achievements of the past century at Delhi’s National Railway Museum.
Starting with the main camera, you can see that the photos generally have a more contrasty look to them. The 1.0-inch sensor flexes its muscles, capturing jaw-dropping details, the likes of which I haven’t seen from a smartphone camera. Just look at the spots of rust around the steam engines and their internal workings.
The bigger sensor also helps you achieve that soft bokeh effect, adding a natural depth that we get to see in dedicated shooters. The HDR tuning by Xiaomi is also stellar. The dynamic range doesn’t brighten up the shadows, nor does it overexpose the highlights. Offering a very close to natural, minimally processed shot.
Given it was a spring Sunday, and the sunlight was giving both me and the 15 Ultra a tough time. While the camera preserves shadows in most situations, it overblows highlights against harsh lightning. As for the ultrawide, the 50MP sensor does a pretty good job all around. The bigger sensor allows for more details, and the color science is in tune with the main lens.
The FOV on the ultrawide isn’t quite as wide. But it still managed to capture the grand stature of this magnificent machinery. But the zoom is where the main highlight of this camera setup lies. Pushing into subjects, whether it is 3x, 4.3x, 10x, 30x, or even 60x, the phone gets you the kind of shot you want without compromising much on the details.
You can crank up the camera up to 120x, and if you have steady hands or are using a tripod pod, then you can get serviceable images. The AI kicks in at 30x to help fix blemishes, but you can choose to turn it off, which is a nice touch. As you can tell, the 200MP 4.3x lens is the one doing most of the heavy lifting. It churns out detailed results even at those zoom ranges. This trend continues at night. And, I feel the Xiaomi 15 Ultra is one of the best smartphones for nighttime photography.
Besides the hardware, I would also like to highlight some of the software stuff that stood out to me. First of all, the shutter speed is stunningly fast. It helped me get some of the more difficult shots of little pigeons hanging out at the ruins of Hauz Khas fort and a scared cat running away from me. Then there’s the filters, especially the Leica B&W high contrast one, which I used a lot.
Then there’s a 32MP selfie camera, which feels like the black sheep of the bunch. It does a fairly good job taking good selfies, portraits, and has decent edge detection. Nothing out of the ordinary, but it barely gets any of the comforts as the back array.
Jumping onto videos, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra can record at up to 8K 30FPS from all lenses individually, which means you can’t switch between them. Or you can shoot at 4K 60 FPS and scroll through all of them for better clarity at longer focal lengths. It can record in Dolby Vision and the LOG format for those professional videographers. Not to forget the ultra-slo-mo 1920FPS at 1080p support.
I Really Leica This Xiaomi 15 Ultra Design
Xiaomi has taken their collaboration seriously this time around, as Leica motifs spill over to the 15 Ultra’s design as well. The silver chrome version has a dual-tone style that evokes a vintage Leica look. The soft matte silver plastic complements the vegan leather deco of the back. And, the round camera plateau with the aluminum frame comes together to create a design that I’m falling for.
But I believe Xiaomi went too far with their ambitions. That’s because the cameras I just praised also weigh down the handset! The Xiaomi 15 Ultra feels very top-heavy. It already weighs 229 grams, and while it is perfectly balanced at the center, I have had instances where the phone almost fell as I was texting or browsing through my apps.
The round plateau also makes it difficult to rest my finger at the back, so I have to continually shift where my finger rests or risk smudging the lenses. The rest of the in-hand experience is great, and the device feels robust, like a flagship should. Xiaomi has even made the power button textured, which is a lovely addition.
However, it seems like they missed an opportunity to include a shutter key, which would have suited the phone’s design. Besides this, the device includes a heavy-duty aluminum frame, Corning Gorilla Glass 7i for the camera, and IP68 protection for accidental spills. Then there’s Xiaomi Shield Glass 2.0 for the display, protecting it against scratches and drops.
A Visual Feast for Content Consumption
Since we are on the topic, the display of the Xiaomi 15 Ultra is as high-end as it gets. It’s a large 6.73-inch micro-quad curved panel, a fancy way of saying that it has slight curves on the edges. This wide panel makes enough room for you to enjoy your favorite movies and TV shows. And the WQHD+ (3200 x 1440) resolution just makes everything appear even sharper and detailed.
I’ve been catching up with Marvel’s Daredevil: Born Again, and I couldn’t think of a better display to watch it on. The dynamic range is tuned so well that most of the dark scenes come out detailed and well lit. Just like the director intended. Plus, it also has all the bells and whistles you expect from a 2025 flagship display. Like a 120Hz refresh rate, LTPO, 12-bit colors, and Dolby Vision support.
That said, the brightness was an underwhelming aspect. Over my usage, I kept feeling like the display isn’t bright enough. This was more evident when taking photos in direct sunlight. I couldn’t make out anything on the viewfinder, guessing my way through the samples, having to keep looking for a shade to check what I clicked.
Other than that, the speakers are stereo with a 30-70 split. Unlike the screen, the audio does not particularly stand out. It gets loud, does its job, and that’s it. I wish they were louder and fuller, but I am being a bit picky here.
As Top of the Line Performance as Expected
As is typical with every 2025 flagship, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra also comes with the all-mighty Snapdragon 8 Elite processor. This is coupled with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. Given you’ll want to click a lot of photos and record videos with this phone, it’s a good decision on Xiaomi’s part to launch the phone with a higher storage option.
Enough chit chat, let’s talk numbers! The benchmark results show top-of-the-line results as expected from a phone of this caliber. Though they do fall behind some other flagships featuring the same chipset. This could be because Xiaomi subdued the performance to keep heating at bay. Despite this, I have noticed the smartphone getting warm while excessively using the camera.
I tried my fair share of gaming, starting with Call of Duty Mobile. It ran without a hitch at Low graphics and 120FPS. But that’s going easy on this phone, so I turned to Warzone Mobile. After just half an hour, I could feel the heat and throttle in performance. Still, the game never stuttered once, and the gameplay was mostly consistent with the phone hitting 30FPS at quality settings.
Xiaomi 15 Ultra: HyperOS 2.0 and AI Features
The 8 Elite also handles Xiaomi’s latest HyperOS 2.0 quite effectively, as the animation-rich UI runs smooth like butter on this phone. Have to say that the company has done some next-level polishing as every icon, notification shade, quick settings, or apps just flows open like they were slipping on the panel, and the 120Hz refresh rate just further accentuates the smoothness of it all.
This iteration is based on Android 15, and I must say, it feels a lot more complete compared to what the company has been doing in the past couple of years. I still have my quirks, as I couldn’t set up my work account, and finding some basic options in settings can be a hassle. Apart from these, this is the first time in a while that I enjoyed Xiaomi’s Android skin. The phone will also receive 4 major Android updates.
The credit also goes to the myriad of AI features available on the Xiaomi 15 Ultra. I couldn’t test all of them out thoroughly, but I quite liked the AI Speech Recognition, which I used to jot down my thoughts for this Xiaomi 15 Ultra review. The AI Search function is also quite neat as it can help you find files and other documents based on the term alone, but I wish Xiaomi implemented it to their settings page. To make it easy to find certain options, much like Samsung’s One UI 7.
The AI Writing Tool, which is something I find on most Android UIs, also comes in pretty handy. I used it to summarize a few articles and rewrite certain text messages. I also gave a shot to some of the AI-powered image editing tools available from the gallery app. Like the reflection eraser, but it didn’t quite work as intended, failing to recognise the reflections I wanted it to remove.
Xiaomi 15 Ultra: Battery Life
Finally, we get to talk about the battery life of the Xiaomi 15 Ultra. I must say that on a regular use, this is a solid one-day device. I used it normally for texting, taking calls, even playing games in the name of “working”, and by the time I reached home, it still had about 30% left in it. Heck, you could push it to another day if you lower the resolution to 1080p.
It is odd to me that while other phones are chasing the 6,000mAh capacity, Xiaomi packed a 5,410mAh capacity cell in the 15 Ultra. Maybe to save costs, or to make room for the cameras, who knows? Xiaomi is generous enough to offer a 90-watt charger in the box, which can top up the device in little over an hour. Scratch that, you can even charge it at 80 watts wirelessly. Though that does require Xiaomi’s own wireless charger.
Xiaomi 15 Ultra Review: A Top-Tier Camera Phone with a Premium Cost
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra is a very well-crafted device, whether I go over its design, the cameras, or HyperOS. There’s a lot of phone here to admire, and while in context it doesn’t bring huge upgrades compared to last year’s 14 Ultra, it has a level of refinement that only comes from new iterations.
I must say that using this phone’s camera is the most fun I have had clicking photos. Especially when I paired it up with Xiaomi’s Photography Kit for the 15 Ultra, which is an additional set of accessories, including a case, a grip that also packs a 2,000mAh battery, a thumb grip, and a 67mm mount for ND filters. The kit made the experience of using the phone more like a traditional point-and-shoot camera, as it felt more natural to use.
Its level of detail in photos is unmatched by any Pixel, an iPhone, or even a Samsung. So if you are serious about your smartphone’s photography prowess, then you wouldn’t mind Xiaomi 15 Ultra’s €1,499 price tag. But for most of you out there, it is with a heavy heart that I must say, you can look elsewhere for a better option.
The Gambian Supreme Court has commuted the death sentence of a minister convicted of killing his colleague to life in prison.
The minister was one of the few convicted for crimes committed during the 22-year rule of ex-dictator Yahya Jammeh.
The case has been closely watched in the tiny West African nation as a rare example of accountability for Jammeh-era crimes and also as a test case for a years-long moratorium on capital punishment.
The ruling announced on Tuesday upheld the verdict against Yankuba Touray for the murder in 1995 of the country’s ex-finance minister, Ousman Koro Ceesay.
But judges ruled Touray would be spared hanging and instead serve out a life term in a prison outside the capital, Banjul.
A Gambian commission in 2021 recommended prosecutions for the killings, torture, and other abuses under Jammeh, who is in exile in Equatorial Guinea after he fled the country following his defeat in the 2016 election by President Adama Barrow.
Gambia has observed a moratorium on capital punishment since 2018. Though courts have handed down several death sentences for crimes committed under Jammeh, who ruled the West African country for 22 years after seizing power in a 1994 coup, none have been carried out.
The sentences have, however, ignited debate in Gambia over the use of capital punishment.
Gambia’s former spy chief and four other ex-intelligence officials were sentenced to death in 2022 for the 2016 killing of activist and Jammeh critic Solo Sandeng.
A handful of other cases around the world have seen convictions of Jammeh-era officials.
Jaylen Petty, the reigning Washington State High School Basketball Player of the Year and MVP of the 2025 Class 3A boys’ basketball tournament, has decommitted from the University of New Mexico and is headed to Stanford University for his freshman year. Petty recently led the Rainier Beach Vikings to their 10th 3A State Championship win, ninth under the direction of Head Coach Mike Bethea, and is proud to represent his family and the Black community.
In the 2025 WIAA state tournament, Petty averaged 20 points per game and led his team to the championship, further solidifying his reputation as one of the top players in Washington state. Petty’s accolades reflect his exceptional talent, leadership, and determination on the basketball court, and he is looking to bring the same momentum to the Cardinal roster.
“It’s a true blessing to represent my family and people of my color,” said Petty. “I am committed to making the most of this opportunity at Stanford.”
Outside of New Mexico, Petty accumulated offers from several programs, including Fresno State, Oklahoma, Pepperdine, San Diego, Stanford, UC Santa Barbara, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and Washington. As he weighed his options, Petty found himself at a point where he was reflecting deeply on the kind of future he wanted to build beyond his time at Rainier Beach. For him, choosing the right program wasn’t just about basketball; it was more about aligning with a vision for his life and long-term goals.
“After decommitting from New Mexico, the process involved carefully weighing all my options to ensure I made the best decision for the life I want to build,” said Petty. “It felt like I had to act quickly, but I stayed focused on what truly mattered to me.”
While Petty was eager to play for Richard Pitino at the University of New Mexico, he is happy for Pitino and his coaching staff on accepting a job elsewhere at Xavier University. For Petty, the coaching change is simply another chapter in his journey that he embraces.
“Life is a journey, and every step is part of the process. I’m super happy for Coach Pitino and the Xavier staff, celebrating their ongoing success,” Petty said. “Committing to Stanford was a thoughtful decision, and I hope to keep making choices that align with my aspirations and goals.”
As a Seattle native, Petty, after withdrawing his commitment from New Mexico, considered Washington before choosing the Cardinal. However, landing the four-star recruit and the #1 ranked player in Washington state is a significant recruiting win for Stanford.
“Being from Seattle, I definitely considered playing for UW since it’s my hometown, but I also believe you can create a sense of home anywhere you go,” Petty said.
Standing at 6 feet tall and weighing 165 pounds, Petty put up standout numbers during his senior season at Rainier Beach, averaging 24.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 3.2 steals per game. One of his most unforgettable performances came in January against Nathan Hale, where he broke headlines by setting a school record with a seemingly effortless 61-point triple-double. In that 139–51 victory, Petty also had 15 assists and 15 steals, proving his status as one of the best players in the state.
“I bring hard work, strong leadership, and the mindset of a God-driven student-athlete,” says Petty. “On the court, I’m about delivering buckets and securing wins.”
Having transitioned from the PAC-12, Stanford is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). The ACC is one of the premier basketball conferences in the nation, featuring programs like Duke, North Carolina, and Virginia. The competition is intense and has a high level of talent and frequent NCAA Tournament appearances. On the other hand, New Mexico is a long-standing member of the Mountain West Conference, competing at a high level within the league.
While both teams have demonstrated success in their respective conferences, they operate within different competitive atmospheres. Stanford’s spot in the ACC places them among some of the most dominant programs in college basketball, accompanied by the challenges of extensive travel. In contrast, New Mexico’s position in the Mountain West allows for a more regionally focused schedule with a strong home-court advantage.
Despite the differences between the two conferences, Petty embraces his new opportunity as a Cardinal with open arms and views it as a chance to showcase who he is not only as a player but as a person as well.
“I am excited to show the world who I am, both as a player and as a person. Competing at the collegiate level and against ACC teams is a chance to showcase the hard work, growth, and lessons that I have gained through my life experiences and faith,” Petty said.
The long-term future of Alejandro Garnacho at Manchester United continues to hang in the balance as the club prepares for a summer overhaul.
Speculation around the winger’s situation has refused to go away.
Especially after Chelsea held talks over a possible deal in the January transfer window.
But despite Premier League interest, a move abroad is now understood to be the most likely outcome if Garnacho does leave Old Trafford this summer.
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According to United in Focus’ report, Atletico Madrid have maintained their interest in acquiring Garnacho’s signature.
Links of the Spanish club in race for Garnacho circulated back in November.
Diego Simeone is keen to bring the Argentine back to the Spanish capital.
Garnacho first joined Manchester United from Atletico in 2020.
However, the La Liga giants are now open to sealing a return for the player.
Alejandro Garnacho favours move to Atletico Madrid
Graeme Bailey has revealed that a switch to Atletico has long been one of Garnacho’s “most desired options.”
United’s reduced asking price may well open the door for a deal.
With interest mounting and INEOS prepared to sanction his sale, all signs suggest Garnacho could be heading back to Madrid if Simeone gets his way.
Garnacho was recently urged to leave United by Rio Ferdinand.
While some will question the criticism towards the Argentinian, the lack of output can certainly not be ignored.
Garnacho has shown glimpses of his potential, but Ruben Amorim will be aware of the need to bring short-term results.
Therefore comes as little surprise to see United’s interest in Antoine Semenyo – a player who would instantly improve the physical and output flooring of the team.
Interesting times ahead for United fans, with the summer window one that could determine Amorim’s tenure at the club.
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