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The brother of a victim of the New Orleans attack has revealed what the pair last said to each other.

“The last thing we ever said to each other, he told me he loved me”, Jack Bech said of his brother Martin “Tiger” Bech, 27, as he spoke with Sky News’s US correspondent James Matthews.

“I told him I love him, he told me he loves me even more, hung up the phone and that was the last words I ever spoke to him.”

The pair spoke on the phone, just hours before Tiger was one of the 14 people killed in the attack on Bourbon Street, where people celebrating the New Year were run down by a man driving a pick-up truck.

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Pic: Jack Bech
Image:
Tiger Bech (left) and Jack Bech (right). Pic: Jack Bech

Jack said he and his family will make sure “everyone knows” his brother’s name.

“His legacy will live on forever and me and my family are going to make sure that that happens, that everyone knows his name,” he said.

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“Yesterday was the hardest day of my life and each day will be the hardest day of my life just living there knowing I can’t speak to him ever again”, Jack added.

Tiger was found by his family in the hospital while he was unconscious but still alive, time that Jack said was precious to them.

“He couldn’t respond to any of us but I truly believe he could hear us, his eyes were closed.”

“God kept his heart beating for a reason, I believe so my family could say goodbye”, he said.

The Bech family with Jack Bech in American football gear in the centre with his brother Tiger in the white top on the right, standing in between his sister and mother. On the left of the picture are Jack and Tiger's father and sister. Pic: Jack Bech
Image:
The Bech family with Jack Bech in American football gear in the centre with his brother Tiger in the white top on the right, standing in between his sister and mother. On the left of the picture are Jack and Tiger’s father and sister. Pic: Jack Bech

The time they spent together at Christmas was the best “we ever had as a family”, Jack said.

“He saw all his friends when he was home, he made time for everybody and he saw so many people he hadn’t seen in so long”.

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New Orleans truck attack: US army veteran who was ‘quiet and smart’ – what we know about suspect
New Orleans attack: Suspect expressed ‘desire to kill’ as 15 confirmed dead in New Year attack

Jack said he believed that everything happens for a reason.

On the night before Tiger died, Jack said his brother “confessed his faith and his love in God”.

“That was the first time any of us had heard that in a long time, a decade, years and years”, he added.

Tiger “had such a great life”, Jack said. “He packed in 80 years into 27”.

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Trump 100, Day 57: Why is Trump acting like a ‘mafia boss’?

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Trump 100, Day 57: Why is Trump acting like a 'mafia boss'?

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On Day 57 of Trump’s presidency, US correspondent Mark Stone is joined by Gerard Baker, the Wall Street Journal’s editor-at-large.

After spending election night together on the Sky News set in November, the two compare notes on Trump’s presidency to date and discuss whether Trump is misinterpreting or ignoring his mandate.

Gerry shares what he believes Trump has done right, and what he’s got “completely wrong” at the cost of America.

Plus, they bet who will be the first casualty of the administration.

If you’ve got a question you’d like James, Martha, and Mark to answer, you can email it to trump100@sky.uk

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US Trump administration deports hundreds of Venezuelans despite court order

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US Trump administration deports hundreds of Venezuelans despite court order

Hundreds of alleged Venezuelan gang members have been deported by the White House to a supermax prison in El Salvador, even as a US judge blocked the removals.

US District Judge James E Boasberg issued an order on Saturday temporarily blocking the Trump administration deportations, but lawyers told him there were already two planes with immigrants in the air – one headed for El Salvador, the other for Honduras.

Mr Boasberg verbally ordered the planes be turned around, but the directive was not included in his written order.

Salvadoran police officers escort alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua recently deported by the U.S. government to be imprisoned in the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) prison, as part of an agreement with the Salvadoran government, in Tecoluca, El Salvador, in this handout image obtained March 16, 2025. Secretaria de Prensa de la Presidencia/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES
Image:
Salvadoran police officers escorting alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. Pic: El Salvador’s Presidency Press Office/Reuters

Salvadoran police officers escort alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua t to be imprisoned in the Terrorism Confinement Centre.
Pic: Secretaria de Prensa de la Presidencia/
Image:
Pic: El Salvador’s Presidency Press Office/Reuters

Salvadoran police officers escort alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua recently deported by the U.S. government to be imprisoned in the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) prison, as part of an agreement with the Salvadoran government, in Tecoluca, El Salvador, in this handout image obtained March 16, 2025. Secretaria de Prensa de la Presidencia/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES
Image:
Pic: El Salvador’s Presidency Press Office/Reuters

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Sunday: “The administration did not ‘refuse to comply’ with a court order.

“The order, which had no lawful basis, was issued after terrorist TdA (Tren de Aragua gang) aliens had already been removed from US territory.”

In a court filing Sunday, the Department of Justice, which has appealed Mr Boasberg’s decision, said it would not use the Trump proclamation he blocked for further deportations if his decision is not overturned.

President Donald Trump sidestepped a question over whether his administration violated a court order while speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday evening.

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But he added: “I can tell you this. These were bad people.”

Salvadoran police officers process alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua recently deported by the U.S. government to be imprisoned in the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) prison, as part of an agreement with the Salvadoran government, in Tecoluca, El Salvador, in this handout image obtained March 16, 2025. Secretaria de Prensa de la Presidencia/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES
Image:
Pic: El Salvador’s Presidency Press Office/Reuters

Salvadoran police officers cut the hair of alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua recently deported by the U.S. government to be imprisoned in the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) prison, as part of an agreement with the Salvadoran government, in Tecoluca, El Salvador, in this handout image obtained March 16, 2025. Secretaria de Prensa de la Presidencia/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES
Image:
Police officers cut the hair of alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua recently deported by the U.S. government. Pic: El Salvador’s Presidency Press Office/Reuters

Salvadoran police officers escort alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua t to be imprisoned in the Terrorism Confinement Centre.
Pic: Secretaria de Prensa de la Presidencia/
Image:
Pic: El Salvador’s Presidency Press Office/Reuters

Asked about invoking presidential powers used in times of war, Mr Trump said: “This is a time of war.”

He also described the influx of criminal migrants as “an invasion”.

“Oopsie…Too late,” Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, who agreed to house about 300 immigrants for a year at a cost of $6m in his country’s prisons, posted on X above an article about Mr Boasberg’s ruling.

The immigrants were deported after Mr Trump’s declaration of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, which has been used only three times in US history – during the War of 1812 and the First and Second World Wars.

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Tren de Aragua originated in an infamously lawless prison in the central state of Aragua and accompanied an exodus of millions of Venezuelans, the overwhelming majority of whom were seeking better living conditions after their nation’s economy came undone during the past decade.

The Trump administration has not identified the immigrants deported, provided any evidence they are in fact members of Tren de Aragua or that they committed any crimes in the US.

It also sent two top members of the Salvadoran MS-13 gang to El Salvador who had been arrested in the US.

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Video released by El Salvador’s government showed the shackled men – who had their heads shaved – being transported to prison in a large convoy of buses guarded by police and military vehicles and at least one helicopter.

The immigrants were taken to the notorious CECOT facility.

The bar on deportations stands for up to 14 days and the immigrants will remain in federal custody during that time.

Mr Boasberg has scheduled a hearing Friday to hear additional arguments in the case.

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Man injured by hot tea from Starbucks awarded $50m in damages

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Man injured by hot tea from Starbucks awarded m in damages

A delivery driver who needed skin grafts after being burned when a hot tea from Starbucks spilled into his lap has been awarded $50m (£38.6m) in damages.

Michael Garcia suffered third-degree burns to his genitals, groin and inner thighs and has permanent and life-changing disfigurement after collecting the drink at a California drive-through, according to his legal team.

His negligence lawsuit blamed the injuries on Starbucks, claiming an employee did not wedge the scalding-hot tea firmly enough into a takeaway tray.

Video footage shows Mr Garcia being handed a tray of three drinks at the serving window in Los Angeles and appearing to struggle as he drives his vehicle away.

Pic:Trial Lawyers for Justice
Image:
Incident happened at a Starbucks drive-through in California. Pic: Trial Lawyers for Justice

A Los Angeles County jury found in favour of Mr Garcia after he launched legal action over the incident on 8 February 2020.

He was working as a Postmates delivery driver at the time, according to Sky’s US partner network NBC News.

His lawyer Nick Rowley said his client’s “life has been forever changed”.

“This jury verdict is a critical step in holding Starbucks accountable for flagrant disregard for customer safety and failure to accept responsibility,” he added.

Starbucks said it sympathised with Mr Garcia, but plans to lodge an appeal.

In a statement, the global coffeehouse chain said: “We disagree with the jury’s decision that we were at fault for this incident and believe the damages awarded to be excessive.”

The firm added it was “committed to the highest safety standards” in handling hot drinks.

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First image of Pope Francis since he fell ill

US restaurants have faced lawsuits before over customer burns.

In one famous 1990s case, a New Mexico jury awarded a woman nearly $3m (£2.3m) in damages for burns she suffered while trying to pry the lid off a cup of coffee at a McDonald’s drive-through.

A judge later reduced the award and the case was settled for an undisclosed sum under $600,000 (£463,600).

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