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US military removes commander of Greenland base

(NYT) — The U.S. military announced Thursday that it had removed the commander of its Pituffik base in Greenland, adding that it would not tolerate any actions that go against President Donald Trump’s agenda.

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The decision to remove Col. Susannah Meyers was announced in a statement by the U.S. Space Force that was posted on social media by Sean Parnell, the chief spokesperson for the Pentagon.

While the statement didn’t cite a specific reason for her removal, Parnell said that “actions to undermine the chain of command or to subvert President Trump’s agenda will not be tolerated.”

Meyers had sent an email to base staff distancing herself from Vice President JD Vance’s visit March 28.

Vance visited the base as part of Trump’s push to take over Greenland, an island that is a semiautonomous part of Denmark, for national security reasons.

“Commanders are expected to adhere to the highest standards of conduct, especially as it relates to remaining nonpartisan in the performance of their duties,” the Space Force said in the statement.

On March 31, Meyers emailed the staff at Pituffik saying that the concerns of the Trump administration as expressed by Vance did not reflect the views of the base leadership, according to excerpts published by Military.com.

The Space Force confirmed that those excerpts were from an email Meyers sent to the entire base March 31.

In addition to U.S. military personnel, civilian contractors from Greenland, Denmark and Canada also live and work at Pituffik.

Meyers became the commander of the 821st Space Base Group, which runs Pituffik, in July.

Enforcement of REAL ID for airline passengers to begin

WASHINGTON (Reuters) — The U.S. Transportation Security Administration said on Friday it will begin enforcing long-delayed stricter ID requirements at U.S. airports starting May 7 and warned passengers could be denied access to flights.

On May 7, TSA will no longer accept state-issued identifications that are not REAL ID compliant. Congress in 2005 approved new, stricter federal standards for issuing identification cards but enforcement has been pushed back repeatedly.

TSA said Friday that next month passengers 18 or older without passports or the enhanced ID “can expect to face delays, additional screening and the possibility of not being permitted into the security checkpoint.”

TSA said 81% of travelers at checkpoints are currently presenting an acceptable identification including a state-issued REAL ID and the agency added that it “will continue with additional screening measures for those without a REAL ID until it is no longer considered a security vulnerability.”

It is still unclear how vigorously the TSA will enforce the new rules. U.S. airlines are already worried about weaker demand given international tariff tensions and economic concerns.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem noted that people also need those IDs to visit a federal building starting May 7.

TSA in December 2022 pushed back the “REAL ID” enforcement deadline until May 2025.

Many Americans travel by airplane just once or twice a year, and under President Joe Biden last year, the TSA said it may opt to give three warnings before travelers are told they cannot travel on future flights without a new ID.

3 killed in fiery plane crash in Boca Raton, Fla.

(NYT) — Three people were killed when a small plane crashed near the airport in Boca Raton, Florida, on Friday, officials said, sending large plumes of smoke billowing into the air as residents reported hearing a thunderous crashing sound.

The three people who died were all on board the Cessna plane when it crashed just after 10 a.m., said Michael LaSalle, an assistant chief and public information officer with the Boca Raton Fire Rescue.

A fourth person on the ground was treated for non-life-threatening injuries after he drove through the “fireball” from the crash and hit a tree, LaSalle said.

The plane’s pilot reported “mechanical issues” just before the crash, he said.

Footage from television news showed debris on a set of train tracks beneath a highway overpass. Boca Raton police said a major section of Interstate 95 had been closed near the crash site.

Flightradar24, a flight tracking site, captured a dizzying flight pattern as the plane looped and zigzagged around the Boca Raton area. It took off around 10:15 a.m. local time from Boca Raton Airport and was headed to Tallahassee, Florida, according to the site.

Bomb explodes outside train offices in Athens

ATHENS (Reuters) — An explosion occurred outside the offices of Hellenic Train in Athens, Greek police said on Friday, adding there were no immediate reports of injuries.

Police cordoned off the area after two Greek media organizations received warning calls that an explosive device would go off within 35 minutes, police officials said. A suspicious-looking bag was spotted outside the building which was evacuated.

An investigation is under way. A police official said the cause was likely a makeshift bomb.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

Hellenic Train is a unit of Italy’s Ferrovie dello Stato, which operates passenger and freight routes in Greece.