内容摘要：Israel said it had imposed the blockade on Gaza to pressure Hamas to release the remaining hostages, at least 20 of whom are believed to be alive.

Israel said it had imposed the blockade on Gaza to pressure Hamas to release the remaining hostages, at least 20 of whom are believed to be alive.

President Trump had signed an executive order in February directing agency heads to begin "large-scale reductions" in staffing. Those efforts to slash the federal workforce were halted by a California judge earlier this month.On Friday in a 2-1 ruling, a San Francisco-based appeals court denied the Trump administration's request to unfreeze that injunction.

The administration may request for the US Supreme Court to weigh in."The Executive Order at issue here far exceeds the President's supervisory powers under the Constitution," the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals wrote. "The President enjoys significant removal power with respect to the appointed officers of federal agencies."The Trump administration had sought an emergency stay of an injunction which had been given by Judge Susan Illston of San Francisco. The judge questioned how an overhaul of federal agencies could be actioned without congressional authorisation.

The case was brought by federal employees unions, local governments and non-profits who argued against Trump's executive order, as well as directives which were issued by the Office of Personnel Management and Office of Management and Budget to implement Trump's policy.The cuts are part of the Trump administrations efforts to curtail government spending through funding freezes and firings - led by the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge).

Trump has repeatedly promised to slash government spending and reduce the federal workforce. He tasked billionaire Elon Musk and Doge with leading that charge.

Tens of thousands of federal workers have reportedly been fired, taken buyouts or been placed on leave since Trump took office.Tomas Gallagher, 42, of Rathanlacky, Dunkineely, County Donegal, was handed a five-year prison sentence, with the final 12 months suspended, for a range of offences committed in 2022 at St Patrick's Purgatory on Lough Derg.

Appearing before Letterkenny Circuit Court, the court heard Gallagher deceived his victims into helping him fix washing appliances in a laundry room before subjecting them to a series of sexual acts.In sentencing Gallagher, the judge described his crimes as "egregious acts of violence in a sacred place of pilgrimage".

Judge John Aylmer said an aggravating feature in the case was the ages of some of the victims, two of whom were teenagers, as well as the breach of trust involved.He described the incidents against the women, who cannot be named to protect their identities, as "deceitful and premeditated".