Two dead and 10 injured in Pennsylvania steel plant explosion

A second person has died after an explosion tore through a Pennsylvania steel plant on Monday, local officials have confirmed, BBC reported.

The body was discovered after a search operation which stretched into the evening at the US Steel Clairton site outside Pittsburgh.

Local police earlier confirmed that one other person had died and 10 others were injured in a large explosion which destroyed part of the plant.

An order instructing residents within a one-mile radius of the site to keep their windows and doors closed over air pollution fears triggered by the resulting fire was lifted on Monday evening. The cause of the blast is yet to be confirmed and an investigation is under way, according to BBC.

US protesters say Trump using ‘crime emergency’ to justify DC takeover

Trump declared a “crime emergency” in Washington, DC on Monday, authorizing the Department of Justice to take control of the city’s local law enforcement. At the same time, he announced the deployment of 800 National Guard troops to the capital, with 100 to 200 supporting law enforcement efforts.

According to Al Jazeera, protesters near the White House voiced their disapproval, with some describing the move as a significant and alarming escalation. Keya Chatterjee, executive director of advocacy group Free DC, called the action “authoritarian,” emphasizing concerns over the rights of DC residents and their long-standing calls for self-determination.

 

Trump considers reclassifying cannabis as less dangerous drug

US President Donald Trump announced that his administration is reviewing the possibility of reclassifying cannabis as a less dangerous drug. Speaking at the White House, Trump said he expects to make a decision in the coming weeks, calling the issue “very complicated.” He acknowledged positive reports about medical cannabis but expressed concerns about broader use, especially its impact on children and older adults, Al Jazeera reported.

Following his remarks, stocks of cannabis companies surged, with New York-based Tilray Brands rising nearly 42 percent. Cannabis remains illegal at the federal level as a Schedule I drug, categorized alongside heroin and LSD, indicating high abuse potential and no accepted medical use. Former President Joe Biden had proposed reclassifying cannabis to Schedule III, reflecting lower risk, but the change was not implemented before he left office.

 

3 shot dead at Target store in Austin; suspect caught after police chase

A shooting at a Target store parking lot in Austin, Texas, left three people dead after a gunman opened fire and then fled in stolen vehicles. Police caught the suspect, a man in his 30s with a history of mental health issues, about 32 km away following a chase, according to Firstpost.

Two victims died at the scene; a third died later in hospital. Another person was injured but unrelated to the shooting.

Austin Mayor Kirk Watson called the attack a “sickening, cowardly act” and offered condolences to the families. The investigation is ongoing, Firstpost reported.