A man accused of shooting two National Guard troops near the White House has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and assault charges. Rahmanullah Lakanwal made his initial court appearance by video from a hospital bed for charges stemming from the Nov. 26 shooting that killed Specialist Sarah Beckstrom and wounded Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe. Lakanwal, who was shot during the confrontation, laid in a hospital bed during the hearing and his attorney entered his not guilty plea on his behalf.
On Aug. 30, 1916, on his fourth attempt, explorer Ernest Shackelton successfully returned to Elephant Island in Antarctica to rescue 22 of his stranded crew members, who had survived on the barren island for four and a half months after the sinking of their ship, the Endurance.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is praising Qatar for helping the U.S. secure the release of an American held by the Taliban for more than two years. Rubio said Thursday George Glezmann will be reunited with his wife. The airline mechanic from Atlanta is the third American detainee to be released by the Taliban since January. Afghanistan's Foreign Ministry confirms the release on "humanitarian grounds." Glezmann is being accompanied back to the U.S. by Adam Boehler, who's been handling hostage issues for President Donald Trump's administration. Glezmann was abducted while traveling through Afghanistan as a tourist. Glezmann was seized by the Taliban's intelligence services in December 2022 and was designated by the U.S. government as wrongfully detained.
