NEW YORK (AP) — Police arrested a 30-year-old person inside Trump Tower on Monday after getting a report of a disorderly person on an “elevated surface” inside the building, authorities said.
New York City Police responded at around 4:30 p.m. to the skyscraper where President Donald Trump keeps a penthouse. The tower also houses private condominiums, restaurants, shops, and a soaring public atrium that is open to tourists.
Independent journalists on the scene posted video of security officials evacuating people from the atrium and police officers later exiting the building. The officers were wearing helmets and safety harnesses of the kind used by emergency responders who specialize in rescuing people from high places.
The NYPD’s emergency service unit took the person into custody without further incident, police said. It wasn’t immediately clear what charges the person might face and the incident remains under investigation, police said.
Trump Tower has been the scene, over the years, of protests, bomb scares and the occasional stunt. A person tried to scale the building in 2016 and got to the 21st floor before officers dragged him in.
One of Washington’s most vocal critics of Israel’s policy of genocide and “eradication” the native Palestinian population is retired Col. Lawrence Wilkerson, the former chief of staff to the late Secretary of State Colin Powell.
In this recent interview with Andrew Napolitano, Wilkerson exposes the agenda behind the Neocon and Zionist agents of influence currently running President Trump’s foreign policy portfolio, and their dark goals in Gaza, the West Bank, as well as in Iran….
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READ MORE ISRAEL NEWS AT: 21st Century Wire Israel Files
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(TLB) PUBLISHED THIS VIDEO REPORT FROM 21WIRE
SUPPORT THIS INDEPENDENT MEDIA PLATFORM – BECOME A MEMBER @21WIRE.TV
VISIT 21WIRE’S TELEGRAM CHANNEL
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Unseeded Jelena Ostapenko produced a stunning performance to defeat world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 6-1 to win the clay court title in Stuttgart on Monday.
The Latvian capped off an impressive tournament, which saw her dump world number two Iga Swiatek out earlier in the tournament, with her first singles title of the year.
Ostapenko brought her best game to the court by brushing aside Sabalenka to win her first title on clay since her 2017 Roland Garros Grand Slam victory.
Surprisingly, Sabalenka struggled to cope with Ostapenko’s fierce baseline power and her serve all through the clash.
Ostapenko won the first set, and she quickly raced to a 5-1 lead in the second set, winning 16 of 18 points to break Sabalenka twice.
Ostapenko was delighted to win the competition, winning her first clay trophy since 2017.
She said, “Congrats, Aryna, on a great week. I think you hate me now because you wanted this car so badly.
“Every time I come here, I enjoy it so much, and thanks to everyone for making this week amazing for me. I am really happy today.
‟I felt very confident from the very first day. I had this strange but also good feeling that something special could happen here. I reckon I’ve earned it.”
Sabalenka has now suffered four defeats in the last five finals in Stuttgart.
She admitted that her performance was not good enough in the final.
Sabalenka said, I didn’t play my best tennis on the important points, and in the end, Jelena was simply brutally good. I’ve lost a lot of close finals. Learn the lesson and move on – that’s my plan. I’ll try to do better next year.”
Ostapenko will receive the prize money of $162,181 thanks to her triumph, while runner-up Sabalenka has been rewarded with a cheque of $99,878.
The 27-year-old has won eight WTA Tour-level singles and ten doubles titles, including a singles major at the 2017 French Open and a doubles major at the 2024 US Open.
She is the first Latvian to win a major in singles or doubles.
Tennis: Ostapenko Stuns World Number One To Win Stuttgart Open is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
SAN FRANCISCO — Willy Adames was all smiles catching up with old teammates before the Giants hosted his former team, the Milwaukee Brewers, on Monday.
It was the same joyous demeanor the shortstop has displayed so far with his new club, even if he hasn’t played up to the seven-year, $182 million contract he signed with San Francisco. The Giants have started hot but mostly done so in spite of their new franchise shortstop.
“Performing is not going to change the way I play the game,” Adames said from his locker in the Giants’ home clubhouse. “It’s a long season and there’s going to be dark moments as well as amazing moments. That’s why I don’t change. I can’t change the vibe, change the energy for the boys because I’m not doing great. Some of the guys are killing it. I’ve got to support them. And I’ve got to support the guys that aren’t doing great, like me.”
Adames spent the past four seasons in Milwaukee, receiving MVP votes twice and leading the Brewers to three postseason appearances, but hasn’t lived up to that play through 22 games with the Giants. He entered the series batting .202 with a .554 OPS, five extra-base hits, nine walks and 26 strikeouts in 99 trips to the plate.
Over his eight-year career, Adames owns a .766 OPS — more than 200 points higher than his mark so far in San Francisco.
“Look, he’s swinging the bat as good as he has right now. Got off to a little bit a slow start, but we have several guys who have,” manager Bob Melvin said. “I think you can put a little pressure on yourself from time to time when you come to a new place and you don’t get off to a good start. But I think the at-bats are getting better.”
San Francisco Giants shortstop Willy Adames #2 talks with Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Freddy Peralta #51 and field coordinator Néstor Corredor, right, during batting practice before their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, April 21, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Adames’ beloved status in the Brewers’ clubhouse was evident by the number of men in navy-and-gold garb coming up to him behind the batting cage before Monday’s game. That was part of the appeal to Buster Posey, and Adames’ leadership has managed to shine through even while he searches for his swing.
“The enthusiasm with how he plays I think rubs off on everybody. Just an extremely likeable guy,” Melvin said, calling him “a key figure in our clubhouse — and we feel like we have a very close clubhouse.”
The Brewers moved on with Joey Ortiz, the infielder they acquired from Baltimore for Corbin Burnes, and started the season 12-10 — only two games off the Giants’ pace. Adames said he was “expecting at least a call” but didn’t hear from the Brewers before before agreeing to his deal with the Giants in early December.
It’s the second time Adames has had to make a first impression on a new team, but he refuted the notion that he was feeling any additional pressure. He won fans over quickly in Milwaukee, going on to post 3.6 bWAR and a career-best .886 OPS over 99 games after being traded by the Rays in May 2021.
Adames was batting .197 at the time of the trade, which he said is typical and explains his slow start with the Giants. Over the course of his career, Adames has consistently posted his worst numbers in March and April and had his most success after the All-Star break.
San Francisco Giants shortstop Willy Adames #2 chats with Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Freddy Peralta #51 during batting practice before their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, April 21, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
“When I click, I just click and it doesn’t go away,” he said. “It’s just how it is, unfortunately, for me. It takes time for me to get going. … As long as we continue to win games, I really don’t care about myself. Obviously I want to do great, but I’m going to continue to contribute in different ways until my bat comes alive.”
Adames laced an RBI single into right field in Saturday’s win over the Angels and drove in two more runs Sunday with a pair of line drives. It was the first time this season Adames had put together at-bats that produced runs in back-to-back games, raising his average over .200 with his second knock.
If he found his stroke, it couldn’t have come at a better time.
While Adames said it was “different” and “a little weird” facing his former teammates for the first time when it counts — “now, it’s like, real stuff,” as opposed to their meetings in spring training — the matchup he was most looking forward to is set for Friday.
The Brewers’ scheduled starter that night is Freddy Peralta, a teammate and close friend of Adames for his entire tenure in Milwaukee.
“We’ve talked about it since I’ve signed here,” Adames smiled. “We know it’s going to be fun. We’re going to battle. Whatever happens, we know we’re going to talk crap to each other after the game.”
San Francisco Giants shortstop Willy Adames #2 shares a laugh with Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Freddy Peralta #51 during batting practice before their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, April 21, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Notable
— IF Casey Schmitt (oblique), who was placed on the 10-day IL before Sunday’s game, is looking at a lengthy absence. An MRI revealed a Grade 2 strain in his left oblique, and Melvin suggested he would miss “probably about a month.” When the Giants called up IF David Villar to take his spot on the roster, it was the first transaction the Giants had made all season.
Klaus Schwab Steps Down From WEF Board Amid Globalist Retreat
Schwab championed radical wokeness, bug eating, mass vaccination campaigns, population control, and climate de-growth policies
(ZH) – On the same day Pope Francis—known for his inclusive beliefs—passed away, another globalist fell: Klaus Schwab, the architect of the World Economic Forum’s dystopian agenda, announced he was stepping down from the WEF board. It marks the end of an era for Schwab, who championed radical wokeness, bug eating, mass vaccination campaigns, population control, and climate de-growth policies through what often resembled digital communism—social credit scores, central bank digital currencies, and many more China-like policies. Meanwhile, cultural shifts across the Americas signal a rising movement toward traditional values, sending the WEF’s ideological woke grip on governments, non-government organizations, corporations, the church, and society into disarray.
“Following my recent announcement, and as I enter my 88th year, I have decided to step down from the position of Chair and as a member of the Board of Trustees, with immediate effect,” Schwab wrote in a statement.
Schwab stepped down as executive chairman one year ago (read: here), with former Norwegian Foreign Minister Borge Brende taking over daily operations. WEF said Vice Chairman Peter Brabeck-Letmathe was appointed board chairman in the interim and that a search committee for replacement had been appointed.
WEF stated:
“At a time when the world is undergoing rapid transformation, the need for inclusive dialogue to navigate complexity and shape the future has never been more critical. The Board of Trustees of the World Economic Forum underlines the importance of remaining steadfast in its mission and values as a facilitator of progress. Building on its trusted role, the Forum will continue to bring together leaders from all sectors and regions to exchange insights and foster collaboration.”
Might recognize some of the WEF’s board members…
Schwab’s resignation also comes three months after President Trump told globalist CEOs at the WEF’s 2025 Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, “America is back.” It also follows Trump and Elon Musk’s DOGE initiative, which nuked USAID programs that funneled billions of taxpayer dollars into corrupt NGOs.
Trump tells Davos that DEI is abolished, and meritocracy is back in the US govt:
“My administration has taken action to abolish all discriminatory diversity, equity and inclusion nonsense.”
“America will once again become a merit-based country.”
Last month, Eric Weinstein made some very interesting comments at ARC 2025, indicating:
The post-World War II order has fallen. JD Vance has announced this – I personally think it’s very important that the US treat its friends in Europe very very well and it should be done in a fashion that lets people know that the US will be there for the long haul. I am sure that that is in the cards, but we have to realize that we are waking up from a very long period of time which I’ve called the “Great Nap”...
Did Trump’s MAGA derail Schwab’s ‘Great Reset’ plans?
Klaus Schwab now admits that we’re seeing a political revolution against his Great Reset plans.
Whether you want to believe it or not, he’s finished. He might still be standing, but he’s done.
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The Liberty Beacon Project is now expanding at a near exponential rate, and for this we are grateful and excited! But we must also be practical. For 7 years we have not asked for any donations, and have built this project with our own funds as we grew. We are now experiencing ever increasing growing pains due to the large number of websites and projects we represent. So we have just installed donation buttons on our websites and ask that you consider this when you visit them. Nothing is too small. We thank you for all your support and your considerations … (TLB)
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Nigeria’s women’s handball teams won their matches on Monday at the IHF Women’s Trophy Zonal Phase championship, ongoing in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, as the under-18 women’s team fought hard to earn a 36-33 victory over Burkina Faso.
The under-20 team brushed aside Togo with a dominant 52-8 victory.
Nigeria’s U-18 girls overturned a three-goal halftime deficit to edge Burkina Faso 36–33 in a thrilling encounter, which saw the Burkinabé side dominate proceedings with fast breaks and well-coordinated wing play as well as forcing Nigeria to commit so many turnovers as they headed into the break with a 20–17 advantage.
But the second half was different, as Coach John Uzor’s side started playing more like the team that defeated Togo the previous day, with vital goals to outscore Burkina Faso, and also defended like their lives depended on it.
With precise finishes from the wings and dominant transitional play, Nigeria outscored their opponents 19–13 in the second half, sealing a hard-fought 36–33 victory that showcased resilience and tactical maturity.
They will play Ghana in their last match of group A on Tuesday at 1 pm
Later in the day, Nigeria’s U-20 women, in a goal-fest, ran riot over Togo with a 52–8 demolition that left spectators in awe.
Coach Shittu Agboola’s tutored team imposed themselves from the blast of the whistle, executing fast breaks with precision and applying high-pressure defence that left Togo with little room to breathe.
The wings operated with ruthless efficiency, while the backcourt players dictated tempo and dished out assists with flair.
By halftime, Nigeria had already opened up a commanding 24-6 lead, and they didn’t take their foot off the gas in the second half as they swiftly defeated Togo 52-8.
Nigeria’s under-18 women’s team will play the Benin Republic on Tuesday at 5 pm.
Nigeria Defeat Burkina Faso In Handball Championship is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Education Department will begin collection next month on student loans that are in default, including the garnishing of wages for potentially millions of borrowers, officials said Monday.
Currently, roughly 5.3 million borrowers are in default on their federal student loans.
The Trump administration ’s announcement marks an end to a period of leniency that began during the COVID-19 pandemic. No federal student loans have been referred for collection since March 2020, including those in default. Under President Joe Biden, the Education Department tried multiple times to give broad forgiveness of student loans, only to be stopped by courts.
“American taxpayers will no longer be forced to serve as collateral for irresponsible student loan policies,” Education Secretary Linda McMahon said.
Beginning May 5, the department will begin involuntary collection through the Treasury Department’s offset program, which withholds government payments — including tax refunds, federal salaries and other benefits — from people with past-due debts to the government. After a 30-day notice, the department also will begin garnishing wages for borrowers in default.
The decision to send debt to collections drew criticism from advocates, who said borrowers had experienced whiplash and confusion with the changing student loan policies between the Biden and Trump administrations.
“This is cruel, unnecessary and will further fan the flames of economic chaos for working families across this country,” said Mike Pierce, executive director of the Student Borrower Protection Center.
Already, many borrowers have been bracing for obligations coming due.
In 2020, President Donald Trump paused federal student loan payments and interest accrual as a temporary relief measure for student borrowers. The pause in payments was extended multiple times by the Biden administration through 2023, and a final grace period for loan repayments ended in October 2024. That meant tens of millions of Americans had to start making payments again.
Borrowers who don’t make payments for nine months go into default, which is reported on their credit scores and can go to collections.
Along with the borrowers already in default, around another 4 million are 91 to 180 days late on their loan payments. Less than 40% of all borrowers are current on their student loans, department officials said.
Layoffs at the Federal Student Aid office at the Education Department have made it harder for students to get their questions answered, even if they wanted to pay their loans, said Kristin McGuire, executive director for Young Invincibles, a group that focuses on economic security for younger adults. And questions are swirling about certain income-driven repayment programs after a February court ruling blocked some Biden-era payment plans, placing borrowers in the more lenient SAVE Plan in forbearance. The Education Department in February took down applications for income-driven repayment programs — which tie a monthly payment to a person’s income level — only to bring them back online a month later.
“Things are really difficult to understand right now. Things are changing every day,” McGuire said. “We can’t assume that people are in default because they don’t want to pay their loans. People are in default because they can’t pay their loans and because they don’t know how to pay their loans.”
For borrowers in default, one step to avoid wage garnishment is to get into loan rehabilitation, said Betsy Mayotte, president of The Institute for Student Loan Advisors.
Borrowers must ask their loan servicer to be placed into such a program. Typically, servicers ask for proof of income and expenses to calculate a payment amount. Once a borrower has paid on time for nine months in a row, they are taken out of default, Mayotte said. A loan rehabilitation can only be done once.
Biden oversaw the cancellation of student loans for more than 5 million borrowers. Despite the Supreme Court’s rejection of his signature proposal for broad relief, he waived more than $183.6 billion in student loans through expanded forgiveness programs.
In her statement Monday, McMahon said Biden had gone too far.
“Going forward, the Department of Education, in conjunction with the Department of Treasury, will shepherd the student loan program responsibly and according to the law, which means helping borrowers return to repayment — both for the sake of their own financial health and our nation’s economic outlook,” she said.
Associated Press writer Adriana Morga in New York contributed to this report.
The Associated Press’ education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.
Way.com compiled data on parking rates and options at Seattle–Tacoma International Airport. Parking options range from more convenient and expensive options on-site to cheaper parking lots that may require a taxi or shuttle.
On-site parking options at Seattle–Tacoma International Airport range in price from $37 to $47. Around the country, airport parking lots cost anywhere from $5 to $168. Surprisingly the most expensive airport parking lot is in Denver, not in New York City or Los Angeles.
On-site parking lots at Seattle–Tacoma International Airport #1. General Parking: $37 #2. Terminal Direct: $47
Most expensive parking lots at U.S. airports #1. DEN Airport (Short Term East): $168 #1. DEN Airport (Short Term West): $168 #3. LGA Airport (Terminal C Parking): $89 #4. JFK Airport (Blue Garage): $80 #4. LGA Airport (Terminal B Lot): $80 #4. JFK Airport (Yellow Garage): $80 #7. LAX Airport (Valet Parking Lot): $75 #7. ORD Airport (Economy Parking G): $75 #7. LGA Airport (Terminal A Lot): $75 #10. JFK Airport (Red Garage): $70
Off-site parking for Seattle–Tacoma International Airport
Off-site parking options by Seattle–Tacoma International Airport can be as close as 0.4 miles or as cheap as $6.00/day.
Nearest off-site parking lots
#1. MVP Seattle Airport Parking: 0.4 miles ($22.49/day) – Free Airport Shuttle, Outdoor Valet
#2. Doubletree By Hilton Hotel Seattle Airport Parking SPECIAL DEAL: 0.6 miles ($13.95/day) – Free Airport Shuttle, Outdoor Self Park
#3. UVP SEA Airport Parking: 1.0 miles ($9.99/day) – Free Airport Shuttle, Outdoor Self Park
#4. Star SeaTac Airport Parking: 1.2 miles ($14.95/day) – Free Airport Shuttle, Outdoor Self Park
#5. Crest Motor Inn SeattleTacoma International Airport Parking: 1.3 miles ($7.99/day) – Free Airport Shuttle, Outdoor Valet
“He Who Has The Gold Makes The Rules” Trump said Over Easter Weekend
(ZeroHedge) While many are still wondering about whether or not the audit of Fort Knox is happening, it doesn’t seem like President Trump doubts the country’s gold holdings.
With gold surging through $3420/oz. for the first time ever this morning, many are pointing back to one of President Trump’s Truth Social posts from yesterday. Trump wrote on Easter: “THE GOLDEN RULE OF NEGOTIATING AND SUCCESS: HE WHO HAS THE GOLD MAKES THE RULES. THANK YOU!”.
Recall, in early 2025, Donald Trump and Elon Musk publicly questioned whether Fort Knox still holds its gold reserves. Trump announced plans to visit the site, while Musk suggested a live-streamed inspection, saying, “Maybe it’s there, maybe it’s not.”
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent then responded by citing a 2024 audit confirming the presence of 147.3 million ounces of gold, with no major withdrawals in years. He added that senators can request a tour through his office.
Meanwhile, we’ve laid out a number of reasons we think gold is surging in our article out this morning here.
“in a sign that investors are rotating investments away from the US, Deutsche Bank AG said that Chinese clients have reduced some of their Treasuries holdings in favor of European debt. European high-quality bonds, Japanese government bonds and gold are likely to be the potential choices for investors as alternatives to Treasuries, said Lillian Tao, head of China macro and global emerging market sales at the bank,” we wrote earlier this morning.
While there was no specific catalyst for the suddenly collapse in the illiquid early Asian session, which saw many countries on extended Easter holiday, Bloomberg quoted traders that hedge funds are selling the dollar against virtually any currencies after National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett said Friday that President Donald Trump is still exploring ways to remove Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, according to traders.
“The president and his team will continue to study that,” National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett said Friday when asked by a reporter if removing Powell was an option.
Hassett then suggested, accurately, that the Fed under Powell, who was appointed by Trump during his first term, had acted politically to benefit Democrats.
“The policy of this Federal Reserve was to raise rates the minute President Trump was elected last time, to say that the supply-side tax cuts that were going to be inflationary,” Hassett said, adding that Fed officials opted not to go “on TV and at IMF meetings and warn about the terrible inflation from the obvious runaway spending from Joe Biden, and the obvious runaway spending from Joe Biden was textbook inflationary,” Hassett continued. “And then they cut rates right ahead of the election.”
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SOURCE
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The Liberty Beacon Project is now expanding at a near exponential rate, and for this we are grateful and excited! But we must also be practical. For 7 years we have not asked for any donations, and have built this project with our own funds as we grew. We are now experiencing ever increasing growing pains due to the large number of websites and projects we represent. So we have just installed donation buttons on our websites and ask that you consider this when you visit them. Nothing is too small. We thank you for all your support and your considerations … (TLB)
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••••
Disclaimer: TLB websites contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available to our readers under the provisions of “fair use” in an effort to advance a better understanding of political, health, economic and social issues. The material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving it for research and educational purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material for purposes other than “fair use” you must request permission from the copyright owner.
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The Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Dr Emomotimi Agama, has responded to public criticism over the agency’s perceived inaction in the collapse of CBEX, a controversial investment platform accused of defrauding unsuspecting Nigerians.
Speaking during an interview on ARISE NEWS on Monday, Dr Agama explained that the SEC could not intervene because CBEX was never registered with the Commission.
“The first responsibility of the SEC is to watch over regulated institutions within the confines of its available resources.
“Once you are registered with the SEC, you are totally and completely under our watch. Registration actually is the hallmark of regulation. Without registration, the possibility of regulation becomes difficult,” he said.
He emphasised that the SEC only became aware of CBEX recently and had not received any reports about the platform before that time.
“It’s very pathetic that Nigerians will lose their money this way,” he said. “At the SEC, and I’m sure speaking for my colleagues, we’re very empathic about the situation. But even at that, we must say clearly that the idea or thoughts that the SEC is not working are totally out of it.”
According to Agama, CBEX had operated outside the Commission’s radar entirely.
“The CBEX is not registered with the SEC. And no one up until last week had reported the CBEX to the SEC as an investment platform or even made an inquiry to that effect,” he stated.
He stressed that despite such limitations, the SEC has remained proactive in educating the public about safe investing.
“We have continued mass education. Just about two months ago, we launched a podcast at the SEC to provide information to people. We’ve also gone around holding enlightenment campaigns all over the place,” he noted.
To avoid falling victim to fraudulent schemes, he advised Nigerians to seek professional advice before making any investments.
“If there is any investment you are not sure about, contact a financial advisor, a lawyer, an investment advisor or a stockbroker. Investments are very serious business, and Nigerians must take time to check and confirm before delving into it.”
On the notion that CBEX was in the process of securing certification, Agama dismissed the claims.
“It’s totally untrue, in capital letters. No institution applies to the SEC after operating. You cannot operate without a licence from the SEC. That alone is a red flag,” he added.
He also addressed the misconception that registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) is equivalent to SEC approval.
“Sometimes these people are deceptive and manipulative. They could have applied for registration not as an investment platform or exchange. So they may receive a certificate innocently from the CAC,” he said.
Agama assured that justice will be pursued through an ongoing investigation and collaboration with other relevant government agencies.
“We are continually investigating this CBEX scheme, and of course, we will bring them to book. There is a strong collaboration between all the agencies of government to make sure that this happens. As much as possible, whatever we can recover, certainly in this instance, will be returned back to the investors,” he said.
We Became Aware Of CBEX After Nigerians Lost Money—SEC is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
