A 34-year-old Bronx man is facing rape charges after police say the father of a 12-year-old girl walked in on the alleged assault inside a Morris Heights apartment late Sunday night. Jose Ramos was arrested at the scene after NYPD officers responded to a 911 call at an apartment building near West 174th Street and Montgomery Avenue, according to local reports citing police sources. The girl was taken to a local hospital and was reported to be in stable condition. Creep rapes 12-year-old girl inside NYC apartment – arrested when dad walked in on heinous act: cops, sources https://t.co/d2Tag3P0bM pic.twitter.com/zeoZqiNrvn — New York Post (@nypost) April 29, 2026 The New York Post laid out the arrest timeline and charges this way: Ramos, 34, was accused in a late-night assault involving a 12-year-old girl inside a Bronx apartment building near West 174th Street and Montgomery Avenue in Morris Heights. Police sources described Ramos as an acquaintance of the child and indicated investigators believed the two had connected through an app before the alleged attack. The account placed the initial incident around 10:30 p.m. Sunday night. The girl’s father walked in during the alleged assault, and officers were called to the building through 911. Ramos, who lives only a few blocks from the scene, was arrested there by NYPD officers. The charges listed in the report included rape and endangering the welfare of a child. The girl was transported to a local hospital in stable condition, while Ramos was awaiting arraignment Wednesday. The report did not identify the child, and the central public facts remained limited to the police timeline, the charges, and the immediate arrest. News 12 Bronx provided additional local detail on the apartment timeline: The alleged assault happened overnight between April 26 and April 27 inside an apartment on West 174th Street, according to police sources cited by the station. The victim, who is under 15, had been watching movies with Ramos before investigators say the situation escalated into a sexual assault sometime between 10:30 p.m. and 3 a.m. The local report narrowed the setting to the apartment building and treated the case as an early-stage police investigation. Sources also indicated Ramos had no prior criminal history. He was facing rape and child-endangerment-related charges, while investigators continued looking into the exact nature of the relationship between Ramos and the victim. The reporting did not establish any broader motive, and the case remained in the early court stage as of Wednesday. That leaves prosecutors, investigators, and the court to sort out the evidence behind the charges while the victim’s identity remains protected. The charge is serious on its face, but the age allegation is what makes the case especially stark. Under New York law, a person who is 18 or older can face second-degree rape charges in cases involving a victim younger than 15, depending on the conduct alleged by prosecutors. The New York State Senate publishes the statutory language for rape in the second degree: New York Penal Law Section 130.30 applies when a person who is at least 18 engages in covered sexual contact with someone less than 15 years old. The statute also applies to certain cases involving a person who cannot consent because of mental disability or mental incapacitation. For the age-based provisions, state law recognizes a limited affirmative defense when the defendant was less than four years older than the victim at the time. The offense is classified as a class D felony. That statutory context matters because the public reporting identifies Ramos as 34 and the victim as 12, while also making clear that the case is still at the charge stage. The law defines the framework prosecutors may use, but the courtroom process still has to test the facts, evidence, allegations, and any defense raised by the accused. Ramos has not been convicted of a crime. The charges remain allegations unless and until prosecutors prove them in court. The NYPD shared this sexual violence resource information Wednesday: On this Denim Day, and every day, the NYPD supports survivors of sexual violence. Our first-in-the-nation Gender Based Violence Policy and Planning Unit is here to help. If you are experiencing domestic or sexual violence, call 911, or visit a precinct or Family Justice Center. pic.twitter.com/FJkdXMy9R0 — NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) April 29, 2026 Still, the facts reported so far are exactly the sort that make parents recoil: a child, an app, a late-night apartment, and a father walking in at the worst possible moment. Whatever the court process reveals next, the first job of the system is simple. Protect the child, preserve the evidence, and make sure the case is handled with the seriousness it deserves.

The numbers coming out of U.S. Central Command on Wednesday tell a story Tehran does not want the world to hear. Since President Trump ordered a naval blockade of Iranian ports on April 13, American forces have systematically choked off the regime’s most important revenue stream, and the financial damage is now impossible to hide. Admiral Brad Cooper, the CENTCOM commander, announced that U.S. forces have successfully redirected 42 commercial vessels that attempted to breach the blockade. That is not a typo. Forty-two ships tried to get through, and forty-two ships were turned around. But the redirected vessels are only part of the picture. Right now, 41 oil tankers carrying a combined 69 million barrels of crude are sitting idle because Iran simply cannot sell them. The blocked revenue tops $6 billion, and it is growing by the day. DONALD TRUMP'S BLOCKADE HAS THROWN IRAN INTO A FRENZYCENTCOM just confirmed it: 42 COMMERCIAL VESSELS now redirected who tried breaching the blockadeThat's 69 MILLION barrels of oil that Iran can't profit from, totaling $6 BILLION+Iran must cry uncle!ADMIRAL BRAD… pic.twitter.com/JKD8e42qeG— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) April 29, 2026 Iran International reported on the CENTCOM milestone, detailing the scope of the enforcement operation and the mounting pressure it is placing on Tehran’s finances: The commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Wednesday American forces successfully redirected 42 commercial vessels attempting to breach a maritime blockade, describing the effort as part of ongoing enforcement aimed at restricting Iranian oil exports. Admiral Brad Cooper said the vessels were stopped from entering or exiting Iranian ports, adding that 41 tankers carrying an estimated 69 million barrels of oil are currently unable to be sold by the Iranian government, representing what he described as more than $6 billion in blocked revenue.The milestone places the enforcement operation directly on Iran’s oil-revenue problem: vessels trying to move through Iranian ports are being redirected, while dozens of tankers already tied to the regime’s crude supply remain stuck outside the normal sales channel. The visible result is a blockade with a dollar figure attached to it, not just another diplomatic warning. Anadolu confirmed the numbers independently, reporting Cooper’s own words on the blockade’s significance: The US said on Wednesday that the 42nd commercial vessel attempting to enter or exit Iranian ports has been redirected, adding that 41 oil tankers carrying a combined 69 million barrels remain unable to access Iranian ports due to the ongoing US blockade. CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper said in a statement that the US forces recently redirected a 42nd commercial vessel attempting to violate the blockade, describing it as a significant milestone. Right now, there are 41 tankers with 69 million barrels of oil that the Iranian regime can’t sell. That’s an estimated $6 billion-plus from which Iran’s leadership cannot financially benefit, he said. Since April 13, the US has enforced a naval blockade targeting Iranian maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, in response to Iran’s restrictions on vessel passage through the waterway.That confirmation matters because it ties the 42nd redirected vessel to the larger count of stranded Iranian oil. The blockade has been in force since April 13, and the reported financial pressure is not theoretical. The vessels are being stopped from entering or exiting Iranian ports, and the tanker backlog leaves Tehran sitting on oil it cannot turn into spendable revenue. Six billion dollars in unsold oil is a devastating blow to a regime that depends on crude exports to fund its military, its proxy networks, and its nuclear program. And the blockade is not the only source of pain. On the same day the CENTCOM milestone was announced, the Associated Press reported that Iran’s national currency, the rial, crashed to a record low of 1.8 million to the U.S. dollar. The timing is not a coincidence. When a country cannot sell its primary export and its currency is in freefall at the same time, the economic walls are closing in fast. BREAKING: Iran’s national rial currency hit a record low of 1.8 million to $1 as a shaky ceasefire with the U.S. and Israel still holds. https://t.co/dT67H4YRn1— The Associated Press (@AP) April 29, 2026 The Associated Press provided critical context on the broader squeeze Iran is facing, from currency collapse to diplomatic isolation: Iran’s rial fell to a record low of 1.8 million to the U.S. dollar as a shaky ceasefire with the United States and Israel continued. The currency had held steadier in the first weeks of the war because there was little trading or importing, but the pressure became visible as markets reopened. AP’s live updates also said Trump praised the United Arab Emirates’ plan to leave OPEC on May 1, saying the move could help lower oil and gas prices while the Iran war continued to shake energy markets. The broader context is that Pakistan has tried to mediate between Washington and Tehran, while Trump has demanded Iran give up enriched uranium as part of any serious deal.The currency pressure adds another layer to the blockade story because it shows Tehran facing stress on more than one front at once. A regime that depends on energy exports is dealing with blocked oil revenue, a collapsing exchange rate, and a regional energy picture that could move further against it if the UAE follows through on leaving OPEC. Think about what that means for Iran’s leadership. Their oil cannot be sold. Their currency is collapsing. One of the most powerful Gulf states, the UAE, is walking away from OPEC in a move Trump publicly welcomed because it could push global oil prices even lower. And President Trump is not offering Tehran an easy off-ramp. His demand is clear: give up enriched uranium, or the pressure stays. Pakistan has reportedly attempted to play mediator between Washington and Tehran, but there is no indication that Iran is anywhere close to meeting Trump’s terms. Why would they be? The regime has spent decades building its nuclear ambitions. But decades of ambition do not pay the bills when your tankers are dead in the water and your currency is worth less every hour. The blockade has been in effect for just over two weeks. In that short window, the United States Navy has turned away 42 vessels, stranded 69 million barrels of crude, and vaporized more than $6 billion in potential Iranian revenue. Admiral Cooper called the 42nd redirection a “significant milestone.” For the Iranian regime, it is something closer to a financial emergency. This is what real leverage looks like. Not sternly worded letters from the United Nations. Not pallets of cash flown to Tehran in the dead of night. President Trump is applying the kind of sustained, material pressure that forces a regime to make hard choices, and every day the blockade continues, those choices get harder. Iran’s leaders can cry foul all they want. The math does not care.

The House Appropriations Committee has approved $500 million in military assistance for Taiwan and support for its participation in international organizations. “The House Appropriations Committee met to consider the Fiscal Year 2027 National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act. The measure was approved by the Committee with a vote of 35 to 27,” the committee said in a press release. Republicans give $500 million to Taiwan in a bill bragging "We are putting America first" One party wants to fund the Somali Leering Centers. The other wants to fund Taiwan's military. Maybe someday we'll have a party that funds Americans.https://t.co/MXMExK6VQ1 — Peter St Onge, Ph.D. (@profstonge) April 29, 2026 Focus Taiwan shared further: The bill allocates US$47.32 billion in total funding, down US$2.69 billion, or about 6 percent, from fiscal 2026 levels, reflecting what the committee described as “America First” priorities. Despite the overall reduction, the committee said the legislation maintains strong support for key U.S. allies, including Israel, Jordan, Egypt and Taiwan, while countering adversaries such as the Chinese Communist Party, Iran, Cuba and drug trafficking organizations. Republican Representative Mario Diaz-Balart said the bill supports U.S. partners while sending a clear message to rivals. “If you are a friend or an ally of the United States, this bill supports you. If you are an adversary or are cozying up to our adversaries, then you will not like this bill,” he said. Diaz-Balart said the legislation allocates US$1.8 billion for Indo-Pacific partners, including US$500 million in military aid for Taiwan, as well as funding for the Philippines and Pacific island partners. The committee said the bill’s key provisions include support for Taiwan’s participation in multilateral organizations and US$500 million in assistance for Taiwan under the Foreign Military Financing program. The spending package also provides “$200 million in military assistance for the Philippines.” “The world is not standing still – and neither will American leadership. The FY27 NSRP bill delivers a decisive response with a disciplined, results-driven strategy that prioritizes the safety, strength, and prosperity of the United States. It draws a clear line: no more unfocused spending, no more blank checks, and no more policies that fail to deliver. We are directing resources to the highest-impact national security and economic priorities, reinforcing our alliances, and pushing back decisively against adversaries like Communist China and Iran,” Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK) said. “By cutting wasteful programs and demanding accountability from our partners, this legislation ensures every investment is used with purpose. Under Chairman Díaz-Balart’s leadership, we are putting America first and asserting strength where it matters most. With our third bill reported out of full committee, we are continuing to move with purpose – and advancing Article I and the mandate of our great nation,” he continued. Read some key takeaways mentioned in the press release: Champions America First Foreign Policy by: Redefining foreign assistance to promote self-sufficiency, bolster economic growth and stability, and protect United States national security. Providing increased funds for the America First Opportunity Fund to ensure the Secretary of State has the flexibility to quickly respond to unforeseen opportunities to advance the America First foreign policy agenda. Requiring consideration of a recipient partner country’s cooperation on United States priorities such as migration issues, opposing foreign adversaries, burden sharing, support for Taiwan’s participation in multilateral forums, and United Nations votes in determining economic assistance allocations. Withholding all funds for Mexico, except funds to counter the flow of fentanyl, until the Secretary of State certifies that Mexico is delivering water owed to the United States – and allowing the Secretary to transfer any withheld funds to support water storage projects in the United States. Prioritizing United States commercial interests, helping to create opportunities for American businesses abroad. Prohibiting funds for organizations who may have hired terrorists that took part in the October 7th, 2023, mass atrocities – including the murder of 50 Americans since the initial attack – but refuse to cooperate with United States Inspector General investigations. Supports the Trump Administration and mandate of the American people by: Upholding America First priorities by promoting a foreign policy that supports our allies and counters our adversaries, focusing on the economic prosperity and national security of the United States, and eliminating contributions to multilateral organizations that are wasteful and antithetical to American values. Codifying President Trump’s executive orders to ensure no wasteful spending on DEI or woke programs, climate change mandates, or radical gender ideologies. Prohibiting funds for irresponsible migration, endorsing President Trump’s executive orders on border and migration. Encouraging the Secretary of State to factor in countries’ cooperation – or lack thereof – on migration issues when determining the allocation of foreign assistance. Prioritizing funds and policies to combat the flow of fentanyl and other illicit drugs into the United States. Advancing the America First Global Health Strategy by continuing requirements for transition, reducing United States funding as partner countries take on responsibility and burden sharing, and supporting the Secretary through the Memorandum of Understanding and implementation planning process. Defunding the United States Agency for Global Media while investing in the new International Communications Activities account, established in the President’s request. Protects life, supports American values, and enhances our standing in the world by: Maintaining all long-standing pro-life protections, including Helms, Kemp-Kasten, Tiahrt, and Siljander. Enhancing oversight and transparency over program implementation in global health. Prohibiting funds to the UN Population Fund (UNFPA). Prohibiting funds in contravention of the rule published in the Federal Register on January 27, 2026, entitled “Protecting Life in Foreign Assistance.” Banning “disinformation” and “misinformation” programs that violate the free speech rights of American citizens and businesses. Promoting human flourishing in foreign assistance by prohibiting funds in contravention of the rules published in the Federal Register on January 27, 2026, entitled “Combating Gender Ideology in Foreign Assistance, and Combating Discriminatory Equity Ideology in Foreign Assistance.” Removing vague references to “gender” and clearly stating our support for women and girls. Allowing only the American flag and other official flags to be flown over United States embassies and consulates. Prohibiting funds for the Pandemic and Arms Trade Treaties. Supporting religious freedom programs abroad and religious freedom protections for faith-based organizations delivering foreign aid. Holding foreign governments and bad actors accountable for persecuting people of faith, including by restricting assistance to Nigeria until measurable actions are taken to protect Christian communities suffering from religious violence. Confronting human trafficking by prohibiting funding for countries and organizations that exploit Cuban doctors, while directing the Secretary of State to pull visas for officials involved in such practices. Bolsters United States national security and border protections by: Providing unwavering support for Israel by including not less than $3.3 billion in Foreign Military Financing Program funds. Providing robust assistance for key United States partners Egypt and Jordan. Including $500 million in Foreign Military Financing Program for Taiwan and $200 million in military assistance for the Philippines, as well as availability of Foreign Military Financing loans and loan guarantees. Fully funding the Countering PRC Influence Fund at $400 million. Providing $1.8 billion for United States national security interests in the Indo-Pacific and to counter the PRC’s malign influence. Denying the Chinese Communist Party access to U.S.-backed resources by: Requiring opposition to multilateral development bank lending for the PRC. Requiring opposition to increased shareholding for China within the multilateral development banks. Prohibiting funds for the PRC, Chinese Communist Party, or for countries to repay debt owed to Communist China. Prohibiting assistance to individuals or entities that support, finance, or facilitate the operations or commercial activities of the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces, Ministry of Interior, or their affiliates. Prohibiting funds to the Taliban. Promoting freedom and national security in the Western Hemisphere. Safeguards American taxpayer dollars and preserves core functions by: Prioritizing fiscal sanity and eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse by strategically investing in partners to help them achieve long-term goals in the interest of United States national security. Enhancing oversight and transparency requirements to ensure American taxpayer funds are not used by ineffective or fraudulent organizations. Supporting efforts to reduce duplication, eliminate siloes, and streamline foreign policy under the direction of the Secretary of State to support a nimble and effective Department of State. Eliminating funding for certain unauthorized programs, organizations, or functions. Prohibiting funding for Biden-era executive orders on climate, gender, DEI, and other extraneous and radical programs that undermine American foreign policy. Continuing to require the transition of global health programs toward greater country ownership and supporting the Department of State as they secure co-financing commitments from partner countries. Prohibiting funds for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). Prioritizing diplomatic engagement to favorably resolve commercial disputes abroad and to promote American business interests overseas. Refocusing attention on critical diplomatic functions, such as addressing passport applications and ensuring the safety and security of our embassies.

The Florida Legislature has officially passed a new congressional map that could potentially give Republicans four additional U.S. House seats. Gov. Ron DeSantis Reveals Proposed Congressional Map As Florida Legislature Nears Special Session "Ron DeSantis' new Congressional map for Florida, which positions Republicans to win an extra FOUR seats in the US House, has FULLY PASSED the Senate, 21-17," journalist Nick Sortor wrote. "It'll now head to DeSantis' desk," he added.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) said the Justice Department must “act now” if it wants to prosecute former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Director Anthony Fauci after indicting his former advisor, David M. Morens. Justice Department Indicts Former Top Fauci Advisor For Allegedly Concealing COVID-19 Records "I've said it from the beginning: lying to Congress is a felony. Destroying federal records is a felony. Advising others to destroy federal records is a felony. Fauci did all three. His adviser was just indicted. Fauci is next. The deadline to prosecute Fauci is May 11. The DOJ must act now," Paul said. I've said it from the beginning: lying to Congress is a felony. Destroying federal records is a felony. Advising others to destroy federal records is a felony. Fauci did all three. His adviser was just indicted. Fauci is next. The deadline to prosecute Fauci is May 11. The DOJ… — Rand Paul (@RandPaul) April 29, 2026 More from the New York Post: Just two weeks remain before the five-year legal deadline on May 11 to indict Fauci for denying under oath that he funded “gain of function” experiments that modified bat coronaviruses in the same city where the pandemic started. Morens, 78, was charged with one count of conspiracy, two counts of destruction, alteration, or falsification of records in federal investigations and two counts of concealment, removal, or mutilation of records relating to the origins of COVID-19. He faces up to 51 years in prison. Critics say Fauci, 85, bears the most responsibility and that he should be hauled into court. Trump told The Post in a phone interview on March 31 that he intended to “look into” Fauci’s status and Republicans say they believe acting attorney general Todd Blanche, who is seeking the role permanently, might be willing to test Trump’s assertion that former President Joe Biden’s preemptive autopen pardons, including for Fauci, are invalid. “99% of this country has no idea who Morens is,” said Oversight Project President Mike Howell. “It’s Fauci that they will blame for one of the worst government catastrophes in history in America. And so the test is Fauci. The Morens indictment is great, and we applaud it. But there are a lot of people out there that want to see Fauci held to account for the damage he wrought.” "I referred top Fauci lieutenant Dr. David Morens to the DOJ for prosecution in 2024. He tried to keep sensitive information from the public. We deserved to see it then and deserve to see it now. This is exactly the kind of accountability Americans deserve," Paul said. I referred top Fauci lieutenant Dr. David Morens to the DOJ for prosecution in 2024. He tried to keep sensitive information from the public. We deserved to see it then and deserve to see it now. This is exactly the kind of accountability Americans deserve. pic.twitter.com/MRTHlRbIT8 — Senator Rand Paul (@SenRandPaul) April 29, 2026 The Kentucky Republican previously said he was working with Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on collecting evidence to prosecute Fauci. Paul said he sent a criminal referral to "Trump's attorney general." Watch below: Rand Paul has revealed he’s working with RFK Jr. to prosecute Fauci. However, Trump’s Department of Justice is ignoring him and refusing to bring charges. pic.twitter.com/ya8rP1a5SF — healthbot (@thehealthb0t) March 19, 2026 The Hill noted: Morens seemed to suggest in some emails that Fauci, the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, was aware of his misconduct. In one exchange, he wrote, “I can either send stuff to Tony on his private gmail, or hand it to him at work or at his house. He is too smart to let colleagues send him stuff that could cause trouble.” Fauci for his part disavowed Morens, saying that he “knew nothing” of the emails, describing his former colleague as “not an adviser to me on institute policy or other substantive issues.” “[To] the best of my knowledge I have never conducted official business via my personal email,” he wrote in an opening statement ahead of his own hearing before the subcommittee in 2024.