©2023 by King Features Syndicate, Inc. World rights reserved.
THE MAGICIAN
WE WANT CLOSE-UPS! SPLASH AROUND, LOTHAR! MAKE IT LOOK REAL!
UH– IT ALL HAPPENED DURING A STORM, I.E.
PRECISELY WHY THE FAN IS HERE! ON-SCREEN, IT’LL LOOK LIKE A TROPICAL CYCLONE!
AT THIS MOMENT– FAR AWAY–
I HAVE THE ANSWER TO MANDRAKE’S QUESTION! BACK TO THE SKULL CAVE, HERO!
1-22
===AUTHOR’S NAME AND AFFILIATION===
HELSINGBORG (SWEDEN), May 22: NATO allies and defence officials have expressed confusion and concern after US President Donald Trump announced he would send 5,000 additional US troops to Poland, shortly after ordering the withdrawal of a similar number of troops from Europe.
The conflicting signals have left allies uncertain about the direction of US military policy in Europe.
Earlier, the Trump administration had indicated a reduction of around 5,000 troops from Europe, including confirming that about 4,000 US service members would no longer deploy to Poland.
The move also included halting the deployment of US personnel trained to operate long-range missile systems in Germany.
These decisions had raised concerns among NATO members, particularly those on the alliance’s eastern flank near Russia and Ukraine, who rely heavily on US military presence for deterrence.
However, in a post on Truth Social, Trump reversed course, stating he would send “an additional 5,000 Troops to Poland,” citing his strong relationship with Polish President Karol Nawrocki.
The abrupt shift surprised allies who had been preparing for a possible reduction in US forces and reassessing their own defence responsibilities.
At a NATO foreign ministers’ meeting in Sweden, reactions ranged from confusion to cautious acceptance.
Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard described the situation as “confusing,” while officials from the Netherlands, Norway, and Latvia said they viewed the changes as part of an ongoing reassessment rather than a clear policy shift.
Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze suggested there was “no change of posture for now,” reflecting uncertainty about long-term US intentions.
US defence officials also admitted they were unclear about the implications of the announcement, noting they had already spent weeks responding to earlier withdrawal plans. Secretary of State Marco Rubio downplayed concerns, saying the US regularly reviews troop deployments as part of its global military commitments.
The situation has been further complicated by internal NATO procedures and US requirements that maintain roughly 76,000 troops in Europe unless allies are consulted.
About 80,000 US troops are currently stationed across the continent, meaning a reduction of 5,000 could potentially fall below established thresholds.
Some European officials, including Poland’s foreign minister Radek Sikorski, welcomed Trump’s latest announcement, saying it would maintain American troop presence in Poland.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte also welcomed the development, emphasizing that Europe must take greater responsibility for its own security while NATO coordination continues.
Despite these reassurances, the mixed messaging has highlighted ongoing uncertainty about US strategic priorities in Europe, particularly amid tensions involving Russia, Ukraine, and broader transatlantic relations. (AP)
Written by Falk. Art by DePaul + Mann.
ATTACKING THIS MAN WOULD SURELY REVEAL ME TO THE UNSEEN OTHER! ON THE INSIDE!
THIS I KNOW FROM MISTER TOWNS ELLERBEE!
ALREADY MY FRIEND SAVES ME FROM A NEEDLESS MISTAKE!
© 2021 BY KING FEATURES SYNDICATE, INC. WORLD RIGHTS RESERVED.
By Jim Davis 4-24
Liz: HOW WAS YOUR DAY TODAY, JON?
Jon: UH…
Jon: I DON’T REMEMBER
Jon: HOW WAS MY DAY TODAY?
Garfield (thought bubble): FORGETTABLE
© 2026 PAWS, INC. All Rights Reserved. Distributed by Andrews McMeel Syndication
(PTI) Bollywood actors Madhuri Dixit and Triptii Dimri pose for photographs during promotion of their upcoming crime-comedy film Maa Behen releasing on Netflix, in Mumbai, Maharashtra, on Thursday.
===AUTHOR’S NAME AND AFFILIATION===
(PTI)
Andrews McMeel for UFS
IS CAPITAL PUNISHMENT HAVING TO LIVE IN WASHINGTON, D.C.?
PESHAWAR, May 22: Pakistan’s military said security forces killed 23 terrorists during intelligence-based operations carried out on Wednesday and Thursday in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the operations were conducted in areas including Datta Khel, Spinwam and Bannu, where troops engaged militants in intense exchanges of fire. Among those killed was a wanted militant identified as Jan Meer alias Toor Saqib, who was reportedly involved in multiple attacks targeting security personnel and civilians. The military said weapons, ammunition, explosives and improvised explosive devices were recovered from the militants. Security forces also destroyed underground tunnels and bunkers used by the group. Sanitisation operations are ongoing to clear remaining threats in the region. The operations are part of Pakistan’s broader counter-terrorism campaign, ‘Azm-e-Istekham,’ which has intensified efforts against militant networks in restive areas of the country. (PTI)
(AP) PARIS, May 22: Their legs don’t move as fast on the red clay. They recover more slowly. But the French public still loves them just as much. Stan Wawrinka and Gael Monfils have been involved in some of the most memorable matches in recent Roland Garros history. The two veterans are back at the French Open for a final dance at the Grand Slam tournament after announcing they will retire at the end of the season.
(PTI)
NEW DELHI, May 22: The Delhi High Court on Friday pulled up the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) for its decision to declare celebrated grappler Vinesh Phogat “ineligible” to participate in domestic events, and said it would pass an order on whether she can join the upcoming Asian Games selection trials.
A bench of Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia observed that the WFI was denying the Olympian the opportunity to compete in the trials despite clearance from the international body, and the federation’s departure from the earlier practice of permitting the participation of reputed athletes based on past performance “speaks volumes”.
It stated that Phogat, who is seeking her return from a maternity break, is a wrestler of international repute and should not be “denounced” for becoming a mother.
The bench emphasised that motherhood is celebrated in the country, and the federation should not act with “vengeance”.
Even as the WFI counsel clarified that the selection criteria is not to the exclusion of new mothers and the issue in the present case arose from Phogat’s decision to retire, the court remarked that the consequence of the WFI policy was that she had been excluded.
Had she not become a mother, she would have participated and become eligible, the court said, adding that an athlete should concentrate on preparations, not litigation.
The Centre’s counsel submitted that if Phogat succeeds in the trials, the framework provided by the Sports Authority of India permits relaxation of the eligibility criteria to pave the way for her participation in the Asian Games.
The criteria for her participation in the selection trials, however, has to be relaxed by the WFI, the lawyer clarified.
He further said the trials could be conducted under the supervision of a technical team of WFI in the presence of independent observers nominated by the Centre and the Indian Olympic Association, and the entire exercise would be videographed.
The WFI counsel requested the court to list the matter on Monday and ask Phogat to make a representation to the federation.
“We will pass orders,” the bench, however, said.
The court was hearing Phogat’s appeal against a single-judge’s order of May 18 refusing her immediate relief on the issue of her participation in the selection trials on May 30-31 for this year’s Asian Games despite being declared “ineligible” by the WFI.
In her petition, Phogat challenged the WFI’s selection policy and circular, which limited eligibility for participation in the Asian Games trials only to medal winners of certain tournaments.
Phogat asserted that the “qualification window” chosen by WFI substantially overlapped with her notified sabbatical on account of pregnancy and post-partum recovery, which created a “closed and inflexible gate-keeping mechanism” that was arbitrary and discriminatory.
Phogat’s senior counsel on Friday urged the bench to grant her the opportunity to participate in the trials, contending that the show-cause notice issued to her on May 9, a day before her participation in a domestic event in Gonda, showed that “somebody is clutching at straws” to oust her.
The court expressed its displeasure at the show-cause notice claiming that Phogat’s disqualification in the Paris Olympics was a “national shame” and questioned why it should not be presumed that the WFI changed the selection criteria for her.
It also questioned why the 2024 Olympic episode was brought up in the show cause which was issued to her earlier this month.
“Was it a national shame? She was in the finals. How did the people of the country look at the event? Would you describe it as a national shame? Is that how you are serving the cause of wrestling in the country? What was the mood of the country at that time,” the court stated.
It further stated that the WFI’s selection policy was “absolutely retrograde” and asked if the Centre was taken into confidence when the WFI changed it.
“She became a mother in July 2025. We are in May. She is a wrestler of international repute. Why can’t it be presumed that you changed it (selection criteria) for her. Whatever may be the feud or dispute, why should the cause of sports suffer? Motherhood is celebrated in the country, should it come to the detriment of a person?” the court orally remarked.
“The change in circular says all. Don’t conduct yourself like this. This is not in the best interest of sports. Deviation from the earlier circular speaks volumes,” it added.
Earlier today, the court had orally asked the Centre to constitute an expert panel to evaluate Phogat after the government counsel submitted that the framework provided by the Sports Authority of India permits relaxation of eligibility criteria in certain cases.
Earlier this month, the WFI had declared Phogat ineligible to participate in domestic events till June 26, 2026, citing the mandatory six-month notice period linked to athletes retiring from retirement under anti-doping rules.
A defiant Phogat, however, showed up at the National Open Ranking Tournament in Gonda.
She had participated in the protest by women wrestlers in 2023 against alleged sexual harassment by WFI’s then-president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. In August 2024, she was disqualified from the 50kg category Olympic finals for being 100 gm overweight in the morning weigh-in.
(PTI) NEW DELHI, May 22: Shiven Agarwal led a spirited bunch into the semifinals across categories as India were on Friday assured of eight medals at the 33rd Asian Junior Individual Squash Championships in Panzhihua, China. Shiven got the better of Singaporean Rehaan Singh in straight games in the boys’ U-17 quarterfinals, and will meet Lokesh Subramani in the semifinals. Lokesh, meanwhile, defeated compatriot Hridhaan Shah in the quarters. Aryaveer Dewan, who won the boys’ U-17 crown last year, advanced to the U-19 semifinals after beating countryman Yusha Nafees in four close games. Others to make the last-four stage were Anika Dubey in girls’ U-17, Abhyuday Arora and Amarya Bajaj in boys’ U-13 and Shanaya Parasrampuria and Divyanshi Jain in girls’ U-13.
